The Board has been working hard the last month compiling information and putting together a submission for the prov. grant Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) in the amount of $140,000 which we need for the basement wall restoration. We then approached the County of Foothills for support and through our Councilor Jason Parker, Division 3, put forward motions to council that were approved as follows: 1. The county will issue tax receipts for donations over $100. 2. They will waive any associated development fees or permit fees to complete proposed repairs. 3. County will have the Safety Codes department work with Square Butte at no cost. 4. Council will support Square Butte’s fundraising efforts with matching funds up to $35,000.
“It is a well -loved facility and even though it is far out west, it does get quite a bit of use”, said Parker Councilor Alan Alger, who was in full support of contributing to the repairs. “I’m certainly supportive of helping out our community halls,” said Alger. “They are the lifeblood of areas”.
Several of the Councilors spoke in favor of supporting Square Butte’s project and we thank each of them for their backing and encouragement.
Jason acknowledged our communities commitment to provide volunteer labour and to continue to raise funds to ensure we qualify for the county’s matching grant of $35,000. “They have skin in the game and they are raising the funds and are going to be doing a lot of the work: This hall was donated to the community and moved on to the volunteer built foundation in 1961 and has been well-maintained by the community”.
This brings us to our online auction which will launch in April. We are reaching out to our community and supporters for your submissions to contribute to this auction. Some items of interest that have been donated are: Custom picture frames; a half day’s work with skid steer; a pickup load of firewood; leather purses; a house concert by Lightfoot & Jeffery; a copy of Foothills Echoes, a local history book; a bed quilt; a camp hatchet with sheath; Milwaukee 12 volt heated jacket; a Mega Bloks 1300 piece antique steam engine kit; a Pampered Chef goodie basket; 4 bottles of Scotch; a septic tank pump out: a B&D cordless combo tool kit and 2 hours shop time.
Please contact Lisa at 403.606.6161 or email contact@squarebuttehall.com with your auction items or for information on hall rentals.
Look for more Square Butte information at our website: Squarebuttehall.com
Facebook: Friends and Neighbors of 762
Financial: sq.butte.comm.assoc@gmail.com
Submitted by Mary Ann Watson
