It has been useful for decades, but now the wall in Unity Hall at the Fergus Sportsplex is in dire need of repair.
Centre Wellington council at its meeting on Monday night authorized its parks and recreation department to proceed with that work.
Recreation director Andy Goldie told council “We didn’t want to close down the hall for more than a couple of weeks.”
He explained in his report that last year the department allocated $10,000 to the facility life cycle reserve fund to consider repairs.
He said the folding wall that creates separate rooms in the hall has been having some operational issues.
Staff contacted the company that installed it in the 1970s, Edward Door Systems Limited, of London, and its staff has inspected the wall and provided advice on repairs.
“After a few hours of inspecting the wall, staff were advised that the wall was in considerable need of repairs and this needed to be done in the short term, as not addressing the repairs would cause a safety issue with the wall,” Goldie said in his written report to council.
It also noted the company will need several weeks to complete the repairs because the work includes removing the entire wall, inspecting all parts, repairing or ordering required new parts, and then rehanging the wall.
“This work would cost approximately $30,000 to $45,000 and take three to four weeks to complete,” the report said.
Goldie added the exact costs will not be known until the wall is inspected, but company officials have stated $45,000 is likely the high end price.
Repairs will extend the wall’s life to another 20 to 30 years, Goldie said, adding that to staff’s knowledge, there have been no repairs to it since it was installed.
“The company also provided us with a quote for a new wall of $75,000 and it would last 30 to 40 years,” he reported.
He explained staff had deferred the project last year because there was not enough money available.
He said because the hall is a busy place, the work would be done between March 12 and April 15.
“This time causes us the least inconvenience and loss of revenue for the hall rentals, however, it does impact some of our regular users.”
Goldie said his department has contacted those groups, mainly those who use the hall during the day when the work would be done, and he promised to work to provide other accommodation for them.
“We are working to still accommodate the majority of night time users,” the report stated.
Goldie said staff considered if the wall is needed, and it determined because the wall allows two events to take place in the hall at once, that is a revenue stream staff does not want to lose.
Plus, if only half is used, it reduces cleaning costs.
The hall rentals in 2011 totalled $90,000 “so it is significant income for us.”
Goldie, in answer to a question from councillor Walt Visser, said there was a fear the track on the ceiling that holds the wall could come apart, so it is now a safety issue.
Councillor Fred Morris said the wall appears to be peeled and wondered how the wall company can restrict people from doing that in the future. “The users obviously picked at it,” he said.
Goldie said the company would be putting on a plastic so it is easy to maintain. “We won’t have those parts coming apart,” he said.
Goldie added the wall has “held up for 35 years.”
Morris also asked about a warranty.
Goldie said until repairs are done, it is difficult to say. He said the company offers an annual maintenance package, something it did not have available when the wall was built. He recommended council purchase that maintenance package when the work is done.
Council then agreed to give staff permission to proceed with repairs.
Councillor Steve Vanleeuwen was absent.
