The Scouts and Guides of High River have been working for 10 years with the town of High River to find a new home.

Susan Lukey, on behalf of the Silverland Camp Society, asked council at the February 26th meeting to help them move forward.

They would like the town to provide land so they can put up a new building either on their current lot, or a new one across from Spitzee School.

Administration recommended to council the group continue to rent space for their programs and that the town not provide them with any land.

The current Scout and Guide Hall was dedicated in 1941 making it 77 years old.

"The building that is there now has served its purpose," said Luke. "We have been working at this for 10 years. So we have put a new roof on it but we haven't put a lot of energy into it cause we want to get accessible washrooms, we want to upgrade it. So we would really like to move forward now."

The hall was cleaned up and repaired after the flood and some of the repairs, including the kitchen cupboards, can be removed and put into a new building Lukey said.

"After the flood we restored the inside, we painted floors, restored the kitchen and new furnaces. It is a functioning building and it is used, it may not look that way."

Lukey said they will pay for the new building, but they need the town to donate or lease them land.

"Yes we are building a facility that will work for our programs, but we will always have a vision that includes something much broader."

Administration for the town recommended to council that no land or buildings be used for the program and that the clubs continue to rent space.

Kaylie Mosig with Our High River told council if they approved this they would be setting a precedent for single use programs.

Lukey told council there really isn't a space in town that works to rent for the program as they need to have enough room for the kids to run around, hit balls and play.

With the schools they cannot rent space on the weekends or summer time. They also need space to hang up gear to air out and dry after taking part in hiking and camping activities.

Backing onto a green space so they can take advantage of it for outdoor activities would also be great she said.

Council asked administration to bring back proposals for a solution at a future meeting.

 

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