| Community
Hall work continues
Progress on the Community Hall continues! Cottonwood Community Hall renovation activities are moving ahead, despite the wet weather setbacks in early January. Over the last several weeks, the Community Hall building has received new plumbing, wiring and interior paint in both the kitchen and bathrooms. New flooring and kitchen cabinets have been installed, and a footing for the new front entrance was poured for the retaining wall to the basement. 
This week’s to-do list will include putting the kitchen back together, and finishing touches on the bathrooms. Replacement of the Hall’s picture windows and the new front entry will be the final tasks, to be completed by the end of February. Community members are invited to participate in a Community Meeting on Monday, February 8th at 6:30 p.m. for an informal tour of the renovations, and project planners will be available to answer all of your questions. While not all of the construction will be completed by that date, the meeting will be an opportunity for the public to preview the changes made to the Community Center. Last spring, Prairie Horizons pursued the renovation project, encouraging the City of Cottonwood to apply for a $150,000 Community Block Grant through the Idaho Department of Commerce. The block grant was a substantial amount, but was not attainable without community support of cash, materials and volunteer labor to help with the renovations. “We have tried very hard to (make improvements) to our Community Hall without taxing anyone,” explained Shelli Schumacher, Cottonwood’s City Council member, “this project is being completed because of very generous support and donations from a lot of community members at large.” Hall rental fees will not be increased after the remodel, but city officials are hoping that more people will take advantage of it for their celebrations and activities. While not every room in the Hall will be affected by the remodel, nor will every project on the “wish list” be tackled this time around, Schumacher is continuing to pursue other sources for on-going upgrades to the Hall’s 56 year-old bones. A commemorative wall will be allocated to the individual and business donors who have made this possible. “We very much appreciate all the help we have received so far,” Schumacher said, “we live in a wonderful area, where the members of our communities are so very generous in so many ways.” Donations for this and future Hall renovations will continue to be accepted at the City clerk’s office. |
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