Innisfail taxpayers are being asked to weigh in on the proposed expansion to the plans for the new gym at the Innisfail Junior Senior High School (HIS).
The additions to the current plans would mean adding space for another full basketball court to the gym, increasing the size from two stations (two basketball courts) to three stations, (three basketball courts).
The cost of the expansion to go from two to three stations would have to be covered by the town and the proposal from Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) requests the municipality contribute $700,000 towards the construction of the gym.
Per property, the cost would equate to $195 per property in Innisfail. Town officials would be considering a number of options for paying for the project including a one time tax increase of $195, or a $65 per property per year increase for three years if they get the go ahead from taxpayers.
The towns inclusion in the project would mean that the gym would not only be used by the school division but would also be open to the public after school hours.
Red Deer County has also been included in the project and will commit $300,000 for the third station if the Town of Innisfail decides to commit $700,000.
The plans for the original two station gym were developed by a cooperation between Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) through their value management process they undertook last year.
The funding for the original two stations is being covered by Alberta Education and the plans for the whole project are currently waiting on approval from Alberta Infrastructure.
The town is now looking for feedback from residents to determine if there is enough support for the project.
An open house was held on Monday Jan. 17, in the IHS gathering area to gauge public interest and to start gathering feedback about the project.
Approximately 60 residents attended the open house and many had strong opinions as to how the project should go forward but most seemed in agreement that this is an important and necessary project for the town to take part in.
“When I looked at how much this would cost I was amazed, $195 is nothing for a household for a year. I am not saying that we are all loaded or anything but really this is something we cannot pass up,” said Stuart Little, a retired teacher and councilmen.
“This is going to be a great meeting place and there is nowhere to meet in the town right now.”
The town has developed a survey for residents to complete that will allow people to not only express if they are interested in the facility but also what they would like to see the facility contain.
There are several options for add-ons to the gym that can be installed during construction. One option being an indoor running track that would cost an additional $500,000 and another being bleachers, which would cost an additional $100,000.
Those who attended the meeting discussed the options and several residents spoke about the addition of a running track.
“If we are going to do this we need to do it right the first time and spend the money. Put in the path and the bleachers, it is much more costly to go back and put them in later,” said Jeff Denham, a community member and parent.
Some of the concerns brought up during the meeting were parking and how the joint-use agreement would be implemented after the facility is built.
Sean Russell, assistant superintendent for CESD, assured residents that parking has been taken into consideration and said that right now they are just looking into big picture of the building and that the specific joint-use details would be settled later.
Once the project is approved by Alberta Infrastructure it will be an estimated two to three years before construction is complete.
Including the repurposing of some of the classrooms and the elevated library linking John Wilson Elementary School to Innisfail Middle School, as according to the value management plan, the total cost of the project is around $8.4 million.
Copies of the public survey can be found online on the Town of Innisfail’s website, or at the town office. Surveys need to be completed by January 28, after which time council will be taking a look at the response and making a decision as to whether to go forward with the project or not.
CESD and town officials are hoping to complete the consultation process by the time they receive a response from Alberta Infrastructure so they can get started as soon as possible.
Although the town hoped to see more people out at the open house they were happy with the response they got at the meeting said Jim Romane, Innisfail mayor.
Of all of the people that spoke, the one that may have had the most impact was not only the last to stand and speak but was the only student that attended the meeting.
“I am in Grade 8, and the Grade 12 and 11 students won’t get to see this. When we went to Olds for an assembly for Rachel’s Challenge, (the gym) housed something like three schools, it was amazing. The opportunities this could create are incredible,” said Daniel Thompson, a student at IHS.
