BOWDEN - A date has been set for ground to officially be broken on the new community hall.
It will take place July 29 between 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. in the northwest corner of the construction site, just after the Bowden Bonanza Daze parade.
Council learned of that date in a report discussed July 10.
The 10,750-square-foot facility, to be located on 3.2 acres of land at the north end of Bowden along Highway 2A (27th Avenue) and 22nd Street, is projected to cost $1.7 million.
Spearheaded by the Expanding Horizons Bowden Cultural Enhancement Society, the hall has been in the works for a couple of years or so.
It will replace the approximately 70-year-old Bowden Lions Hall, located just behind Main Street.
Funding for the project is coming from the Alberta government, Red Deer County as well as through private donations and fundraising projects.
Shunda Construction, which has built projects on the Olds College campus, is the general contractor. Bids from subtrades are being examined.
Council learned that a hall manager has been hired: Kim Urichuk, who has eight years' experience in the hospitality industry, working with Brewster's in Banff.
The Expanding Horizons Committee reported Urichuk has been comparing rates set in community halls across Central Alberta in order to determine what the Bowden Hall's rates will be.
The report said that according to general manager (and town councillor) Wayne Milaney, Urichuk can begin taking bookings for March 1 next year.
Mayor Robb Stuart expressed surprise at that date as council considered the report.
"Ooh, optimistic," he said. "If they get it up before the snow flies, I guess they can move inside."
According to the report, auctioneer Danny Rosehill is expected to donate proceeds from a fall auction to the community hall fund.
Stuart asked chief administrative officer James Mason if he had seen anything "exciting" at the site for the new community hall.
"Well, they found some stuff underground they hadn't expected, but apparently they've got it all straightened out," Mason said, sparking some laughter.
He told council that a neighbour had allegedly been using the lot as a "sanitary sewer field."
"Yeah, once you head into a vacant lot you never know what you're going to find," Stuart said.
Some councillors questioned how that could be done without a permit, then agreed to not "get into that."
"It's rectified now?" Coun. Paul Webb asked.
"It's rectified now," Mason replied.
"Perfect," Webb said.
"Once you head into a vacant lot you never know what you're going to find."ROBB STUART MAYOR TOWN OF BOWDEN
