Hamlet of Enterprise to hire engineer to look at stabilizing community centre

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Friday, March 28, 2014

ENTERPRISE
The Hamlet of Enterprise plans to hire an engineer to figure out how to stop its community centre from sinking.

The problem with the building, which is just three years old, was noticed over the winter.

"When we opened one of the doors, because the building has sunk a little and the walkway hasn't, the door gets stuck on the walkway and you have to sort of yank to get it closed again. So it's just a very recent problem," said Mayor John Leskiw II following a March 24 hamlet council meeting.

Leskiw estimated the building has probably not sunk more than an inch.

The $830,000 centre was officially opened in December 2010.

At the March 24 meeting, council passed a budget for fiscal year 2014-2015, which begins April 1, including funding to hire an engineer to look at the problem.

Leskiw, who was not on council when the building was constructed, noted that, judging by photos taken at that time, no gravel or drainage system was placed under the building.

"So when they put it on the flat ground, of course, in springtime when the snow melts, the ground tends to get a little soft because of all the moisture in it, and because of the weight of the building, we find that it's slowly starting to sink in now," he said. "I guess the original thought was that it is so wide and long that it wouldn't do that, but apparently we got fooled."

The solution to the problem may be as simple as digging a trench around the building and getting proper drainage there to keep water away from that ground, the mayor said during the March 24 meeting, adding that won't be determined until an engineer offers some suggestions.

"We're hoping that it will settle eventually," he said. "Our major concern is that because we have in-floor heating, we don't know what that's going to do with the ducts."

Leskiw said the hamlet has not yet contacted the Alberta company which constructed the building, but that will be done after an engineer is consulted in mid to late spring, once the ice and snow is gone.

The mayor is also not sure if the hamlet had an engineer overseeing the project.

The Enterprise Community Centre was one of the main points of discussion as hamlet council passed its budget.

More consideration will take place on the original idea of using the building as an evacuation centre, which would mean some additions such as an adequate kitchen, shower facilities and a nursing station.

Councillors also decided to defer plans for a water treatment plant for a couple of years, although preparatory water testing will go ahead.

"I can't see us spending a whole bunch of money on a water treatment plant and going into deficit. It's not in the best interests of the town," said Coun. Jim Dives. "So I think what's more important is to look after the buildings that we have. The recreation centre seems to be having some problems and I think that should be a priority right now in enhancing that building."

Coun. John Leskiw III agreed.

"First of all, an evacuation centre in my opinion takes a higher priority at this time than a water treatment plant because we do have water. We do not have an evacuation centre," he said.

Coun. Leskiw said the water treatment plant should be deferred until the hamlet can more reasonably afford it.

At the March 24 meeting, hamlet council passed both an operations and management budget, and a capital budget.