The St. Albert Senior Citizens' Club got a $50,000 boost from city council Monday, to help fund renovations at its aging centre.
The $50,000 will be added to $75,000 the club received from a provincial grant and the club itself will add $25,000 to the budget.
The club is hoping to make up its part through donations and volunteer hours, said executive director Chantelle Labrecque.
She said the repairs to the club are desperately needed and include some major pieces of infrastructure.
"We will be replacing three out of our seven furnaces and also our hot water heater — that is our first priority," she said.
Also on the list are the building's roof, garage door, as well as new paint and flooring. The club is also replacing some of its kitchen and landscaping equipment.
Labrecque said the club also wants to do a few small things to make the building more accessible.
"That will mean just simple things like replacing certain door knobs so wheelchairs can get access … to make sure the sinks are the right height," she said.
Coun. Malcolm Parker, who put forward the motion, said the centre needs the money.
"They are an increasing age group in our community and they have given a lot of benefits back to the city over the time that they have lived here," he said. "I think it is important that we recognize the work they have done."
New building
In recent years the club has discussed building a new centre to replace its aging facility. That is still on the wish list but a new home is probably long in the future, Labrecque said.
"We are talking probably five years down the road," she said. "For the safety of our members we cannot wait to make these repairs."
Council support for the $50,000 in funding was unanimous. Mayor Nolan Crouse said he was cognizant of the possibility of the new building, but agrees that project is not imminent.
"That did cross my mind, but on the other hand it is a city-owned building and we have an obligation to maintain it," he said. "We don't have the money to do that project anytime soon."
Parker also said the city's short term plan doesn't include a new building and these repairs are important.
Crouse noted the project remains an unfunded item on the budget and it could be a long time before it is completed.
Undersubscribed
The $50,000 comes from the city's Community Capital Grant program, which had accumulated $549,472. Not including the grant to the seniors' club, the program has only allocated $113,695 in 2011.
Several weeks ago council's finance committee approved changes to the program, which include adding a second application deadline each year. That will be subject to a vote at a full council meeting.
