New Bothwell rec centre delays prompt changes

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This article was published 01/07/2015 (3218 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A decision to tear down a wall in the New Bothwell Rec Centre has spelled six figures in unexpected renovations that will cost ratepayers in the community.

What was a mistake by somebody or some organization has also resulted in the municipality removing some autonomy granted to the RM’s five recreation boards to ensure similar construction work does not happen again without municipal approval.

As Hanover’s chief administrative officer Luc Lahaie explains it, New Bothwell’s volunteer rec group did nothing wrong when they took money they were granted last year to construct a small addition—a place to put on their skates, essentially.

They did not tell the municipality about it, and they did not need to, he said.

The design was engineered and then approved by the Office of the Fire Commissioner. As work got underway, a wall separating the new wing with the existing structure was removed. The alternation would have been fine if the changes received engineering approval. It did not, and the Office of the Fire Commissioner said this change was a severe violation affecting the entire structure of the building. They would have to inspect not just the addition but the whole complex.

The building was shut down this February.

“The office of the fire commissioner basically scared us in saying, ‘Hey, we were in severe contravention,’ recalled Lahaie. “There are so many things not up to code with this building now that you’ve opened up this can of worms.”

Hanover council decided that month they would assume responsibility to fix this problem from New Bothwell’s rec group, and they would do what it takes to open the facility sooner rather than later.

Three Way Builders was contracted to find the companies to complete the array of work—some of it required, some deemed necessary by improvements the RM wanted. The work included upgrading the electrical equipment and adding insulation. It is expected to cost between $120,000 to $140,000.

The crews have long left the rec centre’s site on Park Bay, but Lahaie said as of last week Friday they have been waiting for final approval from Manitoba Hydro for about a month.

He added the municipality will be the interim financier and only New Bothwell ratepayers will be responsible for taking on the cost.

Hanover reeve Stan Toews did not want to cast blame on any party for what happened.

He said municipal oversight would have helped, which is why the RM amended its policy in February as a result. Capital project work between $10,000 to $200,000 will require consultation with internal municipal staff. A project manager will be expected to oversee capital projects costing beyond $200,000.

At a public hearing last week, where council gave first reading to approve the borrowing of necessary funds, two residents presented in opposition.

Travis Doerksen, an objector who spoke for more than 20 minutes, said Hanover should have held an open bidding process to ensure fairness and give more businesses than Three Way Builders time to submit a bid.

Toews said council wanted to reopen the facility as soon as possible, hopefully before the fair and wine and cheese festival, so they expedited the timeline by choosing a firm right away.

“It could have [been tendered], I don’t know if we would have saved a whole lot of dollars,” said Toews.

“There was the fair, wine and cheese coming up, the community wanted it open,” he said. “And also at first you’re not exactly sure what you’re up against until you get an opinion.”

The centre ultimately did not open in time for the two community gatherings, and even a Toews family get-together could not be held at the rec centre.

Toews believes all parties have learned a lesson here. The RM will be involved in the future in all notable construction projects to prevent a blunder like this from occurring.

He says the community rec groups, which have the autonomy to spend their grants as they see fit, should not be blamed—they’re volunteers. “They do the best they can,” said Toews.