Kimberley City Council sits for their regular meeting every second Monday most months, and on off weeks, Council meets in Committee of the Whole sessions. These meetings give Council a chance to review staff reports on issues that will be coming to regular meetings for decision.
Council looked over a number of reports at the Monday, December 7 COW meeting, including a report on the state of three City facilities — the Civic Centre, the Marysville Arena and the Gymnastics building on Warren Avenue.
The report was produced for information purposes as Council and staff enter the budget process, but also fulfills a campaign promise by Mayor Don McCormick to look closely at all city-owned facilities and what potential future costs may be to keep them running.
All three of these facilities require major repairs over the next ten years. In fact, those upgrades and repairs on the three buildings add up to $2,875,000 — $1,814,000 for the Civic Centre and $981,000 for the Marysville Arena.
McCormick said Council had a good discussion on the facilities report.
The Civic Centre was built in 1959 and at the time its projected useful life was 60 years. By that calculation, the building has three years left.
That being said, McCormick says there is no danger of its doors being closed in three years.
“The Civic Centre is our go to, core facility for ice surface. It’s not in danger of being closed in three years. It’s a reasonably sound building, but it needs a couple of million dollars in work. The question becomes, given the amount of life left, do we throw millions at it?
“Or do we look at replacement with a new recreation complex?”
A new complex would potentially house two ice surfaces and other rec facilities.
These are discussion Council has to have, McCormick says.
“We haven’t talked seriously about it yet. The report says it’s time to get serious about what our recreation facilities will look like in ten years. Chances are the Civic Centre will not be part of that.”
In need of attention in the Civic Centre are the north wall and cat walk at a cost of $535,000, the slab and boards at a cost of $800,000 and a new roof at $250,000. Along with other items such as dressing room upgrades, it comes to $1,814,000.
Replacement cost of the Civic Centre was estimated at $7,551,000. That figure is from an appraisal in 2008.
“Nothing is cheap,” McCormick said. “And we have a tendency to underestimate.”
The Marysville Arena also requires $700,000 in slab and board work, and a new roof at $200,000.
As for the gymnastics club, McCormick says what will likely happen is the city will bulldoze the building and sell the lot.
“The building is inadequate for the club. They can’t hold meets there.”
The positive here is that the city is trying to be proactive, McCormick says.
“We are trying not to just react, but to put together a strategy for the next five and ten years.”