After years of issues with the building at the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre, it appears the end is finally in sight.
“We’re feel we’re finally coming to the end of the cycle for those problems,” said leisure services director Bill Samborski at the city’s planning committee meeting Monday night.
The problems over the past five years included various ongoing HVAC and building envelope issues that had plagued the centre from the time it opened in the fall of 2012. The problems included a buildup of humidity inside the structure that was affecting the wood soffit.
The aquatic centre was closed for a month in 2013 to address some of the issues; it was also closed for a week in September of 2015 for mechanical and spray-foam installation work.
On Monday, Samborski’s monthly Leisure Services report, focused on the latest remediation efforts. Those include removal and replacement of the steam room ceiling and tiles, which had been collapsing, as well as repairs to the shower room tiles.
Other items to come include drywall repair paint and replacement doors. Some capital money will be needed in 2018 to complete some mechanical items, Samborski noted in his report.
He said the building “behaved well” last winter and was looking forward to seeing how it reacted over the coming winter with the latest repairs.
In all, Samborski was happy to see the potential end of the line for the remediation efforts, and praised what the aquatic centre had to offer.
“I’m not exaggerating from my perspective when I sit here and report to council on what a crown jewel we have in the aquatic centre,” said Samborski. He called it a “special place” and noted people and schools were willing to drive two, three, four, even five hours to use it.
“I’m especially proud … to maybe get to the end of the tunnel and the remediation,” said Samborski. “I think there will be a little bit of minor stuff we’ll need to continue next year, and then put it behind us and concentrate on the future.”
