District of Vanderhoof approved a pre-budget allocation of $43,000 for the repair of service stairs at the Aquatic Centre at a special council meeting held on March 22.
The decision comes as a response to safety concerns regarding access to mechanical systems at the facility.
The pre-budget approval aims to expedite the tendering process, allowing staff to initiate the project early in the upcoming season. The allocated funds, drawn from the Aquatic Centre Reserve, encompass engineering, construction, and contingency costs.
The repair project entails the temporary removal of stairs to facilitate the construction of a new frost-protected footing and foundation. This will be followed by repairs to the upper concrete landing. The goal is to complete the project before September, as recommended by the Structural Engineer for the Aquatic Centre.
With the repair deemed a priority for service excellence, the council weighed the options and chose to pre-approve the budget, ensuring timely commencement of the project. Delays in capital budget approval, scheduled for March/April 2024, were deemed undesirable as they could impede the repair’s completion.
In Jan. 2023, the Aquatic Centre witnessed vandalism resulting in $500,000 damages to the pool’s mechanical and filtration systems caused due to flooding. The RCMP continue to investigate the case.
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