The Innisfail Seniors Drop-in Centre is a step closer towards having new modern washroom facilities constructed at its facility.
At town council's regular council meeting on June 24 representatives from the agency made a presentation towards receiving council's support at no cost to taxpayers.
Jean Bennett, publicity director for the drop-in centre, told council members the agency needs to make an application for a federal New Horizon grant by July 5. She said if the application is successful the agency would receive $25,000. Council was told the drop-in centre would add $30,000 of its own money towards the project and that all council had to provide was a letter of support and its approval in principle for the renovation plan.
“At the current time there is no handicapped accessible bathroom there. The ones that are there I think most people would consider them pretty disgraceful. They are not in good shape at all,” Bennett told council. “We have 20 to 30 people per activity per day. We do have lineups at the door and it is getting pretty touchy with people. We are in dire need of making some changes there.”
Council members were told the new washrooms would also be handicapped accessible and would be up to today's acceptable building codes and be appropriate for gatherings of up to 75 citizens. Bennett said the plan is to have the new washrooms built in the area where the pool table and shuffleboard game is now located. She added the plan is to ultimately see the games move into the space now occupied by the current washrooms.
“I don't think anyone disagrees with you that those (current washrooms) are sub-standard,” said Mayor Jim Romane, adding he believed the agency could ultimately see a bigger overall cost to the project in order to meet all safety and fire codes.
Bennett told council that the application for the federal money also required a guarantee of a five-year lease with the town.
However, she was told by administration the town had already entered into negotiations with the agency about two years ago for a new long-term lease but it was not finalized. Bennett said she did not have knowledge of any previous talks between the agency and the town about a new lease.
Council agreed to approve the plan in principle but will hold a special council meeting on July 2 to approve a new lease agreement so the agency will be able to send in its application before the July 5 deadline.
Tammy Oliver–McCurdie, a manager with Family & Community Support Services who has been working with the agency on its application, said the agency would know by September whether its grant application is approved.
“This is an opportunity for the community to enhance that facility, said Oliver–McCurdie.
