Community Hall kitchen upgrades on the horizon

As fundraising for the Community Hall kitchen upgrades is still underway, the group has reached a financial status high enough to proceed with demolition this winter.

After council made a motion earlier this spring to approve the demolition of the Community Hall kitchen starting in December 2020 with construction to proceed from January to February 2021, with the stipulation all funds for the project

including the demolition are to be in place, the Vauxhall Community Center Advisory Committee is now ready to proceed forward.

“Our high estimate was $112,816 and looking closer at that, it included $21,000 worth of granite. There was a $6,000 ice machine and without those two, the laminate countertop would be $5,100 so we can save $15,000 on that alone. That brings it down to around $90,000,” said Coun. Kim Cawley, who also sits on the Vauxhall Community Center Advisory Committee.

The committee also talked about other items that didn’t need to be purchased

immediately, with estimates around $10,000.

As far as funding levels right now, Cawley explained they have reached nearly $100,000 with potential for other sources trickling in.

“Right now with the donations that have come in, and with what the town has set aside, with the FORTIS money that was committed to the kitchen, we’re at over $95,000. We also have one more group looking to put in some sponsorship at some level.”

Next steps for the committee would be acquiring new quotes for the project.

“The committee would now like to have Cris (Burns, CAO) and administration update these quotes as they are two years old. Some may be more, some may be a little less depending on if public works can do some in-house,” continued Cawley. “If we come in at, around or under the $95,000, then if we could direct them to get started on some demolition and getting contractors lined up. We think it’s a great time to get moving on the kitchen because it’s sitting empty.”

A motion to direct administration to retender the project and start the demolition process was carried unanimously.