Alberton looking at new community hall

The Alberton rec committee met Monday night to consider building a new community hall.
“This isn’t just a hall we want to build, it is a cornerstone for people to gather,” noted Coun. John Milling, who has been pushing for a new facility.
A Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. grant totalling more than $94,000 has been pledeged to the municipality as long as it is used by September.
The original proposal had been to spend the money on refurbishing the existing community hall but a number of residents expressed interest in a new building since the old one already has been repaired several times.
“I think something’s got to happen,” said Sandy Haney. “They were talking about fixing up the old hall but this makes more sense because in 10 years we’d have to do it again.”
Coun. Milling approached a company that designed facilities for other communities and asked it to come up with one for a new hall he could present to Alberton residents and council.
“I had asked them if they’d give us a freebie and do a site plan and they quite graciously did,” he remarked.
The new hall would be located along Highway 11/71 across from the municipal office. Measuring 88’ x 50’, it would feature a large area for seating or activities at the front as well as washroom facilities, a bar, and a kitchen.
The site also is designed with the potential for expansion to include an outdoor rink, parking, and a baseball diamond (a large piece of land adjacent to the proposed site is owned by the MTO, which already has indicated it could be handed over to the municipality for any future expansion).
The well and septic field used by the old hall are inadequate, and there has been some pressure to equip the municipal garage at the proposed site with employee washrooms.
So if the new facility is built near the existing garage, it would save the township the costs of digging two new wells and having two septic fields.
Coun. Milling also noted the site of the existing hall could be sold.
“If we sell the old site, we would raise in excess of $50,000,” he said. “That money could then go to a new septic field at the site and a new well.
“There would still be in excess of $20,000 to go onto [the hall],” explained Coun. Milling.
Coun. Milling also a significant amount of funds were in the municipal reserve, and that a number of area businesses have agreed to contribute labour or equipment to the project.
He is requesting community support–vocally and financially–to enable the project to continue.
Most of those attending Monday’s meeting agreed the new location would be beneficial.
“All the services would be more utilized because they are more visible,” said Coun. Milling. “When you’re looking to the right, you’ll see a marquee advertising what is going on in the arena, or lights in the ball park, and this will ensure guaranteed success and the facility would be more rentable.”
“It looks like a nice looking building,” agreed resident Jim McKinnon. “Really it’s a good deal, the exposure is the best thing.”
The committee will go over the proposal and additional information again tomorrow at 2 p.m., then will seek community support by inviting the public to a presentation on June 8 at 7 p.m. in the town hall.
If there is enough support, it will be recommended to council at its next meeting.
The only concerns voiced by members of the committee included the proximity of the railway line, a possible lack of community support, and the financial feasibility of the project but Coun. Milling insisted it is feasible if it has public support.
“We, as council, have to raise the bar for the people. This is a good opportunity and a good way to do that,” he stressed.