The Civic Centre facility located in the town of Outlook is set to get a heck of a facelift after the provincial government recently approved funding for a number of extensive upgrades last week.
On July 8, the province announced total funding of just under $14 million for 139 approved projects throughout Saskatchewan under the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP).
A media release shared that the Town of Outlook will receive a total of $327,557 for upgrades to the Civic Centre’s walls, flooring, and the facility’s kitchen and bathroom amenities.
Town administrator Huguette Lutz noted in an email to this reporter that the Town is hoping to have the work tendered out this summer or into the fall, depending on when estimates from project management firm Walker Projects can be obtained, at which point Outlook’s town council can decide on which aspects of the renovations they wish to proceed. Lutz also shared that there are a number of unknown variables at this early stage, including if there is asbestos that needs to be taken care of, whether the electrical in the Civic Centre is up to code, or if it will perhaps need a sprinkler system installed.
Project managers for the extensive renovations were said to be coming out to assess the building this week, at which point there should be more details provided on what will be done to the Civic Centre. However, there are a number of things that the Town does want done, including renovating the washrooms and upgrading their accessibility, installing a new ceiling which would either hide or completely get rid of the current “grey fluff”, redoing the walls, and bringing the Civic Centre up to the current Building Code.
There are other things the Town would like done, but that will depend on the cost estimates for the current worklist.
In addition to the Town, the encompassing RM of Rudy was also approved for funding through MEEP in the total amount of $66,977, which will be used for the purchase of a tandem end dump gravel truck ($40,000) and towards the purchase of a fire truck ($26,977).
Stay tuned to The Outlook in the weeks ahead for more on the upgrades to the longstanding Civic Centre.
