Initial discussions are underway to determine a future purpose for the former town office.
Mayor Terry Leslie told the Round Up last week that although no formal request has been officially brought before council, initial ideas for what the space could be used for have been tossed around.
"We know we have a facility that could generate a little income,” he said, in reference to leasing the office space, which is located immediately adjacent and connected to the Sundre Fire Department’s hall on First Street SW.
"But we also have a fire department that needs support — they might need that space.”
Elected officials as of last week harboured no particular preference, as any such decision would at this time be premature "because we haven’t had it come before council with the evidence to support moving ahead with leasing the space or supporting the volunteer firefighters.”
However, the fire department provides a core service to keep the community safe, he said, adding that should be a primary consideration in deciding what to do with the former town office space.
"We have to look at that first.”
Although there have been no formal requests from any groups or organizations asking to use the office, the municipality has had some interest expressed in potentially leasing the space. But before making any final decisions, council will have to weigh in the needs of the fire department. Further discussions are expected to occur in the coming weeks to a month, he said.
"Council is going to have some information come forward I expect from the fire department as well as from administration on the potential value of that building,” which will assist council in deciding whether to use the facility to generate revenue or to grant the space to the fire department, he said.
The old town office was in the early 2000s moved to its current location on Main Avenue West between Sixth and Seventh streets SW. That building had once housed FortisAlberta operations and was repurposed to accommodate the municipal office, he said.
At one point, a funeral home operated out of the former office space until roughly 2014, after which the space was listed as vacant and available for lease as it was costing the municipality revenue to maintain, said Ian James, community services manager.
The office has also in recent years served as the annual hub for the Sundre Santas program.
