Politicians Check Out Rec Centre Damage

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 24 January 2012 16:22

Local politicians may be leaning towards repairing the Vernon Rec Centre, rather than a total rebuild. Twenty elected reps, government staff and media were given a tour of the complex today, which needs an estimated two million dollars in repairs. Rec Services manager Doug Ross says the problems are due to inadequate installations over the years in the pool and auditorium. "From what we're discovering now, the de-humidification system either wasn't properly designed or was downsized, and wasn't the proper size to handle everything in here (the pool)." Ross says there's rot in the walls and roof of the pool building which was built in 1993. "If the humidification system had been working, I believe we still would have had the problem happening inside the walls, it just would have taken much longer, many more years for it to really become an issue." There's also problems with heating lines and air units in the auditorium which date back to when the building was constructed in 1966. Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chair Mike Macnabb says staff feel the 46 year old building can still meet the community's needs for many years, if it's upgraded. "A new facility will be frightfully expensive, and there doesn't seem to be a need from a user point of view, so we have some money in the reserves and that might be the way we would lean on this, but certainly we will have a look at it."  Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky says he needs to know more about the costs before deciding which way to go. "We will have to meet with staff and go through the finances and various costs. We haven't done that part yet. All we've done so far is purely information gathering." G-VAC members will discuss the facility at a budget meeting Thursday. Ross points out the pool is not a safety concern for users. "There is no mould. There's absolutely no air quality issues in here at all.We do have a problem with the insulation and we're planning on replacing that." Tannis Nelson, community development coordinator from RDNO, says given current use rates, the area won't need another aquatic facility until 2026.  "Due to the fact we are seeing lower numbers currently, that 2026 might be a bit premature, maybe we're looking at closer to 2030, so there's value to continue to see this facility operate." Photo: Local politicians, government staff and media listen to Doug Ross as he outlines repairs needed for the Vernon Rec Centre duirng a tour Tuesday (P McIntyre photo)