Georgian Bluffs is starting a process to hire a consultant to provide renovation options for the Kemble Community Centre.
The township’s committee of the whole resolved in a 6-1 recorded vote at its meeting Wednesday evening to approve a staff recommendation to proceed with a request for proposals to bring on a consultant for the project and then report back to council on next steps after the RFP process closes.
A report by Georgian Bluffs’ Director of Operations Steven Dollmaier explains the goal of the revamp of the Kemble Community Centre would be to have the facility offer various uses, such as: active programs for seniors, after school programs for children, indoor pickle ball, ultimate frisbee and interactive programs for persons with disabilities.
He says the facility would be retrofitted to include energy efficiency and accessibility upgrades. Interior renovations would also be completed on the space that served as the ice surface, such as the installation of removable partition walls to accommodate a variety of events while still providing access for indoor recreational sports activities.
“We heard from residents the natural ice wasn’t being used (as much as it used to be),” Dollmaier told Georgian Bluffs councillors on Wednesday. “We’re looking at it more as a community centre hub. The consultant will be look at that, as well as updating the kitchen, changerooms and more.”
Georgian Bluffs had a building condition assessment of the Kemble Community Centre completed in 2019. It determined $520,000 in investment was required just to restore the building in its existing condition, without performing any accessibility or energy upgrades.
Dollmaier’s report says it’s anticipated interior renovations and accessibility upgrades could cost an additional $835,000.
Georgian Bluffs applied for a grant through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program community culture and recreation stream in 2019. Earlier this year, the Township received confirmation it had been approved for $1.2-million in combined funding from the provincial and federal governments under the rehabilitation and renovation category, which focuses on small-scale projects to improve the condition of existing facilities.
The township’s share of costs would be just over $452,000, Dollmaier’s report explains. It would be funded from reserves and short-term debenture.
There were some Georgian Bluffs councillors who expressed concerns at Wednesday’s meeting about spending money to retain a consultant to help provide direction for the next steps in the Kemble Community Centre revamp.
Outgoing Georgian Bluffs Chief Administrative Officer Al Meneses told councillors the township does not have the expertise in-house to manage this project and an architect is needed to come in and make sure building standards are being adhered to and many other aspects of the project handled as the process moves forward.