Bentley Council Awards $266K Contract for New Sports Field
BENTLEY – The new Bentley Sports field is moving ahead. Town council awarded a $266,607 contract to Park Landscaping Ltd. Tuesday night to complete the landscape and finishing work on the community project.
The project, located in the new Sunset Heights subdivision, has been in development since early 2023. The contract green-lights the next crucial stage of construction.
What This Means for Residents
Work is expected to begin immediately. The contract covers topsoil preparation, seeding the fields, installing post-and-rope fencing, and adding amenities like soccer goals, waste receptacles, and parking stops.
The goal is to have the fields substantially complete by September 15, 2025, allowing time for the grass to establish.
The total project value is now estimated at over $842,000. This includes a $250,000 donation from Rita Mueller and in-kind rough grading work completed by Lacombe County this spring.
However, some items were not included in the awarded contract due to budget constraints. A precast washroom, bleachers, and tree planting, totaling an estimated $116,050, are now listed as “provisional items.” Town administration will work with Bentley Minor Soccer to fundraise for these amenities, aiming to include them in the 2026 budget.
Landscaping Rules Under Review
Council also reviewed a report on landscaping standards for new homes, an issue raised in June regarding the Sunset Heights subdivision.
CAO Marc Fortais presented a report comparing Bentley’s existing bylaw to those in Sylvan Lake, Rimbey, and Eckville. Bentley’s bylaw requires landscaping to be done within one growing season, a rule that a local builder called unrealistic.
In written feedback provided to the town, the unnamed builder stated, “The establishment of all your requirements in the first year grow season, I do not believe is a realistic requirement or expectation either. Certainly not for the builder.”
The builder suggested the town simplify its rules and focus on the quality of homes being built.
The CAO’s report noted that enforcing the current standards is a challenge without a security deposit requirement. Administration recommended council continue working with homeowners on a case-by-case basis and consider amending the land use bylaw in the future to include landscaping deposits, a practice used in Sylvan Lake and Rimbey.
Other Business
* Westview Apartments: Council received a request from the Bentley Senior Citizens Housing Society for a letter of support. The society is applying for a grant to fund major upgrades to the Westview Apartments building, including a new roof, eavestroughs, lighting, and paint.
* Post Office Problems: Mayor Greg Rathjen previously noted he is addressing an issue with Canada Post, which has reportedly directed residents they must travel to Lacombe to renew their P.O. boxes. Council is monitoring the situation.
What's Next
Park Landscaping Ltd. will begin mobilizing at the sports field site immediately. Town administration will continue enforcing existing landscaping rules for new builds while weighing potential bylaw changes for future discussion.