Rec centre drainage decision tabled
Project could be postponed to 2017 to obtain engineering advice
Joseph Tunney
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 7, 2016
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson's village council will re-visit a decision to postpone plans to address drainage issues at the recreation centre until 2017.
The issue came up for debate on July 4 during a regular council meeting, after being brought forward from a committee.
The project's potential delay is a result of village council wanting to seek out advice from an engineering company in order to properly determine what needs to be done to the drainage system.
"Right now there is a huge drainage issue underneath the (recreation) centre," said Mayor Darlene Sibbeston. "We don't want to be putting a couple $100,000 down and then having to dig it up."
Councillors agreed to table their decision to the July 11 committee of the whole meeting, at which point they will discuss the merits of postponing and whether it would be possible to complete both projects in the 2016 budget cycle.
During that committee meeting, councillors will be given a mid-year update on the village's financial position and whether they have any money to move around in the budget, which could allow them to accomplish both.
In the 2015 capital budget, $315,000 was put aside for the recreation centre, which would include the installation of a concrete slab to replace its sand
foundation.
However, Sibbeston said she would like to put out a proposal for engineering companies to advise council what it needs to do with the drainage system first.
"I think it's diligent of us to advise ourselves of where our money is," she said.
The project was initially discussed at a June 27 contracts committee meeting.
According to minutes of that meeting, committee heard there is sometimes flooding under the recreation centre due to ground elevations, which cause poor drainage or filter water under the building.
The committee brought the proposal to delay the project to village council in order to ensure the concrete slab would not shift or heave, causing damage to the concrete.
During discussion on July 4, Coun. Chuck Blyth asked whether the committee had considered delaying another part of the village's capital plan in order to ensure both consultation and the project itself could proceed this year.
"No, we didn't look at that," Sibbeston said.
While the original motion was to postpone the plan, council decided tabling the decision until the next meeting would be a better idea.
"Once we get professionals in here and find out what exactly the issue is, maybe it isn't as big of an issue, as expensive of an issue and we can do both," said Coun. Mike Rowe.
Although some councillors argued they could still pass the motion and re-visit it later, council as a whole decided against that.
"Once you pass a motion," Coun. Liza McPherson said, "seldom do you come back to visit."
The motion to table was passed with seven votes and will be brought back again to the regular meeting of July 18 for a decision.
"Then they'll make the decision then," said Beth Jumbo, the senior administrative officer.
