Physicians at the Rimbey Medical Clinic have requested that the Town of Rimbey purchase and maintain the property that is currently used as parking at the clinic.
In a letter to council last month, they stated that the population of Rimbey needs access to healthcare.
It stated, "Collaborating with us to maintain adequate parking for your constituents to attend medical appointments would demonstrate a commitment to the ongoing recruitment and retention of a robust medical staff."
Ponoka County, who is in a tri agreement with the Town of Rimbey along with the Town of Ponoka over their fire services, have bought the energy building next to Rimbey's Public Works, so they want to try and sell the old fire hall to gain some revenue out of it.
"It just so happens to be that the doctors who are next door, the county owns right up to those barriers, which would eliminate all of the doctors parking," said Rimbey Mayor Rick Pankiw.
The County of Ponoka has some buyers interested in the entire lot. If sold, the doctors would lose their parking, as the lot is directly east of the Rimbey Medical Clinic.
Because the County of Ponoka is in the process of selling that building, the lot needs to be subdivided or the doctors would lose their parking if it was all sold as one lot.
Pankiw said their was an option given to the doctors to purchase that parking with some good terms, however they declined, as they believe the Town of Rimbey should provide them with parking.
The Town of Rimbey then made a motion to look at purchasing that property being used as parking at the medical clinic if they can come up with a good price with Ponoka County.
"It would be the Town of Rimbey's lot. The doctors would be able to use it, they would maintain it, they would do any snow removal or anything that needs to be done to it, but we would give it to them for nothing to use as a parking lot until the time it's no longer required," said Pankiw.
