The patter of little feet at Rimbey Nursery School will continue to be heard at the same room in the Peter Lougheed Community Centre, but at least until more funding is secured, those little feet will be running about on the same flooring.
A request by the Rimbey Nursery School Society Board to council to help with the cost of a new floor which is estimated to cost around $5,700 has been turned down. However, council did not turn a complete deaf ear to the nursery school’s concerns.
At its July 28 meeting, council agreed to extend the nursery school’s two-year lease to five years, meaning it won’t expire until 2019.
Council was not, however, receptive to picking up the tab for all or part of the renovations for the flooring that are needed.
Mayor Rick Pankiw said such a move would set precedence for other groups who lease town owned buildings.
“It could be opening up a can of worms that I’m not sure we want to open,” said Pankiw.
The mayor added the matter would be brought up again during budget.
“We will discuss it at budget time, but if you can come up with the money, do it.”
Rimbey Nursery School chairman Aimee Heilemann said the board is happy with council’s decision.
“We love the space we are in and we are very happy the way it worked out.” Fundraising will continue to help replace the flooring which has holes and stains in it and seems to be lifting in some areas, she said.
The room needs to be painted as well. Both projects would be completed by volunteers.