Major funding has been booked to expand the growing Stettler Public Library and more parking spaces at the Stettler Recreation Centre.
A $250,000 grant from the new federal Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIP) for the Town of Stettler, in partnership with the County of Stettler, was announced at the Stettler Recreation Centre library last week by Crowfoot MP Kevin Sorenson.
“Both the town and the county worked together to make this happen,” Sorenson said.
“It was a good, unified effort of support from both municipalities. The town and the county work well together.”
Under that phase of the overall project, estimated at $1.5 million, to upgrade the SRC, the funding will expand the library space by one-third and add 35 parking spaces on the west side of the facility to accommodate the new seniors’ social centre planned for the conference room upstairs.
The centre was requested by seniors during community planning sessions last spring.
Work on the revamped library is scheduled to start in September, with the parking lot set for November to wrap up the project.
“This upgrade will bring much-improved access and utility to the Stettler Public Library,” said Jane Skocdopole, who chairs the board.
Last year, 63,836 visits were recorded at the library.
“We plan to have as much glass as possible so that the people of Stettler and area know where their library is and that they have a right to access it.,” Skocdopole said.
“We can offer more services to the community. We will create access to a few quiet places … Gather more people together to discuss issues and ideas, more room for computers so that the library will become even more boundless.”
The MP said the federal government strongly supports libraries.
“Facilities like Stettler Public Library are the foundation of our communities — bringing families and residents together,” Sorenson said.
“In addition to enhancing the quality of life in our communities, they also generate economic activity and jobs.
“Here in Stettler, the public library is an important community resource, serving as a hub for learning and cultural activity.”
Locals government leaders agree with that account.
“Residents of the Town of Stettler are pleased the federal government is supporting the Stettler Public Library in the Stettler Recreation Centre to receive funding from the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund,” Mayor Dick Richards said in a news release.
“Our municipality acts to deliver effective, efficient and affordable services to the community, and this CIIF investment will directly benefit individuals and families who live, work, vacation and farm in Stettler.”
With many of the users from outside the town from neighbouring municipalities, the county is also appreciative of an expanded library.
“Stettler Public Library is an important hub in our community,” said County of Stettler Reeve Wayne Nixon. “We are so thrilled to work together with the Town of Stettler to make sure the facility continues to provide valuable services to our residents.”
It’s just the start of numerous projects planned to upgrade the SRC, built 20 years with an arena, and now valued at about $23 million.
Those include a new ice plant estimated at $367,500, parking behind the arena for $200,000, new energy-efficient lighting for $180,000, new barn-rubber flooring for dressing rooms for $125,000, new puck boards for $75,000, low-emissivity ceilings for $75,000, new automatic sliding doors at the main exterior entrance and upgrading the computer system for $50,000.
Overall costs are expected to rise further as actual costs have yet to be determined to build a spiral staircase, drywall replacement, repairs to the roof above the vestibule, new rooftop heating units, new opening arena boards to make it more efficient to reconfigure the main arena for various functions, and improved drainage on the north side of the building.
Planners say a stairwell in the lobby would further help to connect people to the two floors, because some people don’t realize the facility has an upper floor.