Construction on a new roof over the pool area of the Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC) is set to begin following council's approval of the construction contract Aug. 8.
The $543,873.75 contract was awarded to Flynn Canada Ltd., with the new roof set to be finished by October 7.
"It would be dumb for us to keep patching it. I think it's time for a new roof," said Councillor Roger McCarthy, who sat in as acting mayor at the special Friday council meeting where the contract was approved.
"The sooner we get it done, the better, and I think the price is excellent given what needs to be done."
The need for the new roof was determined after Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers — the roof's original builders — conducted an evaluation earlier this year.
Through its evaluation, RJC identified corrosion of the structural steel deck and frame of the pool roof area.
Following the evaluation, it was determined that an amendment was needed to the RMOW's Five-Year Financial Plan, increasing the Meadow Park Sports Centre Infrastructure Replacement budget by $735,000 from the original $650,000.
Asked at the council meeting what the life expectancy of the original pool roof was, an RJC engineer said it was 10 years — meaning the MPSC's roof has more than doubled its life span.
"Anytime you can double the life expectancy out of something I think it really points to the fact that stuff is being maintained," McCarthy said.
The new roof will have a 25-30 year life expectancy, the engineer said.
The amount of use the MPSC sees makes it a project worth investing in, McCarthy said.
"I think it's an asset that's really well used by the community," he said.
"Having that thing go down for any reason, we just don't want to be in that position."
Other areas of the MPSC roof are also scheduled to be replaced at a date yet to be determined, at a cost estimate of $1.56 million.
It's all part of a five-year capital plan for the MPSC, said Norm McPhail, general manager of corporate and community services with the RMOW.
"Within that (plan) there's a rejuvenation study that is before the general managers that's coming to council," McPhail said.
"It speaks about the plan for Meadow Park, any improvements, and all the things that are coming."
For more on this story pick up Pique next week.
