Rink rats in Clive and bookworms in Bentley will benefit from nearly $142,000 in funding approved recently by Lacombe County.
Clive Athletic and Agricultural Society will receive $116,666 towards a major upgrade to the village’s arena. The $350,000 project involves replacing the ice plant, expanding the concession and storage areas, adding insulation and making the facility wheelchair accessible.
A $200,000 ice plant replacement is the biggest priority because the existing one is failing, the society told county council in a September presentation.
The rest of the cost of the project will be covered through contributions from the village, corporate donors, fundraising events and provincial grants.
Lacombe County’s contribution is coming from a $2.3-million reserve fund set up to provide recreation capital assistance to communities.
A project to upgrade the Bentley Library also got support from council, which approved $25,000 in funding, with the money coming from the same reserve.
Built in the 1950s as a creamery, the library building later served as a steam bath, school/church, and various retail businesses. It became the town’s library in 1992.
The $95,000 upgrade will see washrooms and the front entrance made handicapped accessible and improvements made to lighting, plumbing and heating.
A mechanical room will be divided up to provide storage space, a staff room and kitchenette. The library will also get new paint and flooring and a wall will be taken out to create space for a new business centre.
Town of Bentley is also providing $25,000 towards the project. A $40,000 provincial grant and $5,000 in fundraising will cover the rest of the cost.
Council deferred a decision last week on a request from Alix Playground Society to provide $45,000 towards a $421,500 project to replace playgrounds at the Alix Mac School and Alix Lake Recreation Area. The request was passed on to county staff for a report before it comes back for a decision.
The Village of Alix has committed to $55,000 in funding, including $10,000 of in-kind support. Further funding will come from provincial grants, in-kind donations and community fundraising.
It is expected the project will be done in two phases beginning next year.