City Shorts: Arena Roof nearing completion and Summer water restrictions
By Andrew Zwicker
Arena Roof Update
Following a nearly month-long rain delay this spring, the Rossland Arena roof reconstruction project is now nearing completion. As part of the grant money awarded through a federal economic stimulus program, all work must be completed by an extended deadline of July 31st. To help meet that goal, the City allowed a temporary exemption to noise bylaws, permitting workers to hammer away from six in the morning until nine in the evening.
So far, all of the existing roofing has been removed and the required structural repairs and upgrades have been completed. The new roofing membrane and thermal barrier system have now also been completed.
The next stage in the project will be interior structural upgrades to the Curling Rink roof, as required by the roofing warranty. This work got underway this week and is expected to be completed by the July 31st deadline.
As reported previously in the Telegraph, thanks to the winning contractor bid for the roofing contract coming in far under budgeted amounts, additional work upgrades including replacement of the HVAC and mechanical systems as well as fire & life system upgrades have been included in the overall project.
The HVAC work is currently ongoing and the fire and life safety upgrades should begin later this week.
Last January, prior to the project getting underway, council authorized the city to borrow up to $1.2 million for the project through the alternative approval process. With additional items such as the HVAC and fire & life systems upgrade added to the project, the final bill is still expected to come in well under budget at approximately $980,000. Thanks to the $400,000 grant received and $276,000 left over from the regional recreation breakdown, it is unlikely that the city will have to borrow any monies to complete the project.
A full explanation of spending and where the remaining $300,000 plus or minus is coming from will be forthcoming from the City Manager in coming weeks.
Water restrictions
Now that Mother Nature has decided to grace Rossland with weather of the hot and summery variety, it is becoming increasingly important to practice mindful water conservation practices. So far this year, the city’s reservoirs are at or above normal levels; however, continued hot, dry weather can quickly deplete those reserves.
This week City Hall issued a reminder to the citizens of Rossland that we are currently in phase two of the City’s five stage water use restriction bylaw.
Phase One, implemented on April 1st each year, is a simple conservation advisory in which public information is disseminated to raise awareness of the need to conserve water and provide advance warning of the subsequent stages.
Phase Two, which we are in now, automatically kicks in from June 15th through September 30th. During this phase, properties with even-numbered addresses are permitted to water their lawns with garden sprinklers or irrigation systems only on even-numbered calendar days. The reverse goes for odd-numbered addresses. In addition, you may only water your lawn or garden between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM or 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Further stages in water reduction are non-date specific and only implemented based on the reservoir’s water level. At 0.5 meters below capacity, Phase Three kicks in with residential watering restricted to between 7:00 and 9:00 AM on even or odd days. At 1 meter below capacity, all lawn watering, vehicle washing, sidewalk washing and the use of swimming pools or fountain is completely restricted.
Strictest of all is at 1.5 meters below capacity, when a total suspension of all outside use of water takes place.
In talking to area meteorologist Ron Lakeman, the second half of summer through August is forecasting hotter and drier weather than normal so now is the time to conserve water when and where you can and get to work xeriscaping your property.
