Gerry Murphy to reopen
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 21/01) - The wait is over. According to Yellowknife city officials Gerry Murphy arena will reopen its doors in two weeks.
The city will have to dole out between $15,000 to $20,000 in remedial work on the arena to get the much needed stamp of approval from a structural engineer.
Work includes shoring up trusses and installing tension wires.
"We hope to have the arena open in two weeks, but potentially sooner," said acting senior administrative officer Tim Mercer.
According to Mercer, Yellowknife architecture firm Ferguson Simek and Clark said they would give the arena the stamp of approval once the remedial work is done.
This meets the fire marshall's only requirement to reopen the arena which was shut down two weeks ago for public safety reasons.
"That's all we were looking for, a stamped letter," said Shaun Dean, communications advisor for the department of municipal and community affairs.
"We're satisfied with the plan they have in place," said Dean.
The announcement came late Tuesday afternoon after city officials, the fire marshall and representatives from MACA met to discuss the arena's future.
"We will continue monitoring the arena," said Mercer.
