Caroline residents lobbying for a new community centre are thrilled their efforts have paid off.
The village and Clearwater County announced on Thursday that a deal had been worked out to pursue building a $1.3-million community centre as an addition to the Kurt Browning Complex.
Under an agreement hashed out in a meeting between the two municipalities on Wednesday evening, the county has agreed to assume responsibility for the capital costs of the proposed expansion.
The cost of the project and its impact on local property taxes were among the village council’s concerns.
Final approval will be subject to an acceptable construction bid being received. Community fundraising will also be needed to cover about $300,000 of the cost.
As well, the project hinges on the province allowing an almost $500,000 grant to be used for a community centre, rather than an earlier proposed modernization project to the complex.
The county previously agreed to provide a matching grant.
Kirsten Collison, one of a number of area residents who rallied support for the community centre and helped organize a town hall meeting that drew about 350 residents, was excited by the announcement.
“It’s excellent,” she said, adding full credit should be given to an ad hoc committee of the local ag society that has pursued the community centre idea for many months.
Collison, who is a local teacher and is involved in a local dance group that will train in the centre, has no doubt the community will be able to raise enough to complete the project.
“We live in a very generous community,” she said. “I think a project of this nature, where it impacts so many families in the community, I really don’t think we’re going to have any trouble at all raising the money.”
The proposed centre would include space for a playschool, dance and yoga studios, the chamber of commerce, a medical clinic and fitness centre.
Getting the project underway took on some urgency because the provincial funding hinged on the building being done by next March, said residents.
Councils for the village and county plan to work together to create a long-term operational plan for the facility.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com