A carbon-neutral town hall is at the top of Three Rivers’ wish list for federal funding.
The town, which is without permanent council chambers, submitted an application for the project to the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure (ICIP) program’s climate change mitigation stream following Monday’s committee of council meeting.
The funding could cover up to 73 per cent on eligible projects. The carbon-neutral town hall is estimated at about $3.5 million although council has not hired any architects or made concrete plans for the building.
“It’s still an idea right now,” said Three Rivers CAO Jill Walsh, adding council was hoping the grant could at least cover some of the green technology if the entire building is not eligible for funding.
The location of a town hall has not been selected yet.
The most speculation has surrounded a new town hall replacing the one that burned down in Montague last summer, since insurance would cover some rebuilding costs and it would be closer to essential services. That location is also already serviced, paved and connected to a generator at Montague Fire Hall in case of emergencies, which the town’s former CAO estimated would cost about $250,000 on a new lot.
Opposite argument
The opposite argument is that a new hall could be located in another area as a way to spread out services, although that could mean forfeiting the insurance payout from Montague’s previous town hall.
The town also submitted other requests to the ICIP.
The second request would be for improvements to the Cardigan ball diamonds, including lighting, pitching cages and machines, upgrades to the canteen and storage area.
That project was estimated at $561,000, with the group having already sourced their 27 per cent of costs.
A splash park in Georgetown, which would be located close to the beach and would be a recirculating system, was the third proposal with a cost of $200,000.
Waterfront improvements to Montague, including a walking bridge and approved seating, was also submitted at a cost of just over $1 million. The town’s portion of that would be provided through funds remaining from the former Town of Montague.
A fifth project was for a new Zamboni at Georgetown, which would cost about $125,000.
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