The managers at Creighton Lodge continue to wait for advice on just what they should be doing with their building.
The seniors' home in Estevan had plans to complete work on an addition that would include a 36-foot by 30-foot lounge and entertainment room at the front of the building. The space was important because the suites are full and when musical groups and others are brought in to play a show, their current accommodations for those guests are much too cramped.
Creighton Lodge now has 48 residents living in 45 suites, and they have 80 people on a waiting list. Fundraising for the addition has been going on for about two years, but at the end of the summer, the administrators received some bad news.
They were told the roof was in need of a complete redo. The overhangs had created some problems and the flat roof was going to need to be redone in a peaked style. The cost for that work would be high.
Upon getting a second opinion however, they were told maybe the problem wasn't that bad. A new contractor came in to have a look and found the only work needed was to the overhangs around the building.
"It's a difference of spending a lot of money or fixing just what needs to be fixed," said Judy Pratt, the lodge manager.
She and Shelly Veroba, operations superintendent, want to make sure they have all the information they need before making a decision.
Pratt said the overhangs on their building aren't insulated and they have rot occurring inside them as well as on the drainpipes.
Veroba added that because the overhangs were left for so long, they could cause further problems.
Pratt confirmed there is definitely some work to be done on the roof, even if it's just repairs to the overhangs. As for the extent of those repairs, they are still unsure of. At the very least, Pratt said there are a few exposed areas that must soon be attended to.
When they brought in an engineer to see if a peaked roof could be designed for the building, they were told they had 20 years left on the roof.
Whatever work they need to do, Veroba noted they have the blessing from all of their donors to do what is best for Creighton Lodge. With two years worth of donations coming in for the addition, donors are happy to have their money go to something else if it's important to the home.
"We're thankful that we found out about (the roof) because, heaven forbid, if we would had actually been starting the expansion and then found out about it," said Veroba. "We're very happy it was discovered before the expansion was started, and we're more thankful that the donors were so wonderful. If the roof is what's going to keep this building going longer, they were generous enough to say, 'put the money where the building needs it the most.'"
Pratt noted that when Sun Country Health Region operated Creighton Lodge, they completed roof work in stages between 2002 and 2006.
"Our goal is now to ensure the roof is a 20-year roof, and then move on to the expansion," said Veroba.
"We're really hoping we can fix the overhangs and the drainpipes and then we can carry on with the expansion," added Pratt, "whereas if we have to replace the roof, the expansion will not happen."
Pratt said the expansion would become a long-term goal, something that could be completed years down the road.
"We're waiting to hear what our direction is from the management committee about what we're going to do with the roof. Then our trust committee will try to confirm some fundraising, because it's going to make a difference," said Pratt.
The management committee will be meeting again on Dec. 20, where all assessments of the roof will be made available for review. That's when Pratt and Veroba hope a decision will be made.
"It's not that we aren't doing the expansion. It's just that we have to make sure the investigation of the roof happens before the breaking of the ground," said Veroba.
