By JAMIE SHANKS, of the Weyburn Review
Something must be done - soon.
That was the message at the Legion Thursday night where the importance of renovating or replacing the aging Weyburn Colosseum was made plain by the city's Facilities Committee during a public meeting held to generate input on the issue.
"The floor is serious," alderman Ray Hamm said of the building's rapidly deteriorating rink surface.
"If it goes, of course, the whole structure is useless."
Exactly when that will happen is anyone's guess, said Hamm, but over the past two years the concrete has vertically shifted as much as two inches in places and is continuing to crack. The floor is now so uneven, in fact, that the Colosseum rink ice is three inches thick in areas and extremely thin in others.
Replacement of the concrete slab and its understructure would cost an estimated $250,000, a figure offered in a November report evaluating the facility and outlining potential costs for repairs. Summaries of the report were provided to the 50 people at Thursday's meeting, who were then divided into discussion groups dealing with topics such as the advantages and disadvantages of renovating the existing building and possible uses for a new multi-purpose facility.
Of the six groups, two refrained from an informal vote due to indecision or a need for further information on potential costs. The remaining participants were 20-11 in favour of renovation.
"That's pretty representative of what we've been hearing based on the information we have now," said Hamm, adding that another meeting may be held once the exact costs involved are clearer.
Presently, estimates outlined in the report put a total renovation of the Colosseum at approximately $2.1 million with a price tag of $5 million for a new facility.
Among the ideas produced from the discussion were possible problems with rink downtime during renovation, questions regarding SERCO - the city's contracted rec services management company - and the fate of the old building should a new one be built.
"Do we renovate it for other uses? Do we destroy it? There are pros and cons both ways on that," said Hamm.
"It's a bit of a conundrum no matter which way you turn."
Weyburn Minor Hockey Association president Ken Ferguson said his organization has discussed the need for improvements for years.
"We basically feel we need a major retrofit," Ferguson said after the meeting's conclusion. "The facilities need to be upgraded and we feel that renovation would be an effective way to do it."
One promising suggestion resulting from the discussion period involved a three-year plan to renovate the Colosseum in stages. Long-term planning for city facilities is a new concept, Hamm said, and ideally money will be committed to that purpose when budget deliberations for 2000 begin this fall.
The city is still open to input from the public on the subject and anyone seeking further information is encouraged to contact City Hall.
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