Alliston Arena long term fix picked as top priority for CIIF
application
Posted August
14, 2012
New Tecumseth councillors last night opted to make the full scale
rehabilitation of Alliston Memorial Arena its top priority as far as
applying for up to 50 per cent in funding from the newest round of the
federal government's Community Infrastructure Improvement
Fund (CIIF).
The work includes major
electrical upgrades (Lighting etc), roof upgrade, Main Pad Heating
lAC/Dehumidification, roof membrane upgrades, bleacher enhancements
throughout including complete replacement in South end (300 seats),
accessibility upgrades, arena board and glass replacement, exit
upgrades from main dry pad (including door and hardware replacement},
mechanical upgrades to change rooms, office and storage upgrades,
upgrading of Community Hall kitchen, main walls, and
flooring. A preliminary estimate of total cost is $2 million with the
Town
share being $1 million under the program's allocation policy.
Parks and Recreation Manager Ray Osmond's report identifies the Hydro
Electric Commission (HEC) sale reserve as a source of funding, as well
as adjustments to the facility's user rates. The Town has borrowed from
the HEC fund previously to pay for its share, $993,868, of the Rotary
Pool reconstruction started in 2009 during the last round of government
stimulus. That program also featured a one-third contribution from the
provincial government.
If fully undertaken, the upgrades to Alliston Memorial Arena would add
more than 25 years of life to the Nelson Street facility whose
long-term fate still hangs in the balance pending a council decision
expected in September. However, even if the arena proposal is approved
for CIIF money, the Town has the option to refine the proposed list of
works, or change its mind. Replacing the Beeton Arena is not an
eligible project in this round of
CIIF.
Deadline to apply for CIIF, which has an allocation over two
years of $49.6 million to dispurse in Ontario, is August 24th. The
program provides eligible projects up to $1 million.
New Tecumseth will include all eight projects in the application but
multiple requests need to be listed in priority. The federal government
selection process has final say on the project it will support. The
other projects to be included are:
New Tecumseth Trail Development (estimated total cost
$500,000);
New Tecumseth Recreation Centre (NTRC) gymnastics
expansion, mechanical, change rooms and circulation space (estimated
total cost $3,465,000);
Tottenham Conservation Area (TCA) Site Development
(estimated total cost $1 million);
Beeton Rotary Park- Playground Equipment (estimated total
cost $300,000);
Boyne River Linear Walkway (estimated total cost $200,000);
Alliston Memorial Arena Renovations (estimated total cost
$250,000); and
New Tecumseth Recreation Centre (NTRC) Dry Pad (estimated
total cost $2 million).
The total estimated cost of the eight recommended projects is
$9,715,000, which, if all eight projects were approved (highly
unlikely) the Town's total
contribution would be $5,590.000. The majority of these funds would be
required in 2013. Some funds for design work and trail development
would be required in 2012. Of the $5.59 million, $2.36 million could be
funded by development charges, while a combination of transfers from
HEC reserve, and contributions from user groups (gymastics club) would
fill the shortfall.
