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Other upgrades needed

Contractor kicks a dud in installation at athletics park

Nov 9, 2020 | 5:35 AM

Built at a cost of $8.6-million just five years ago, the Greater Vernon Athletics Park is already in need of some repairs and upgrading forecast to cost $240,000.

One of the hot items at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee meeting was a $50,000 budget item to replace the football uprights.

“We bought these things at great expense and they are tipping, they were never properly installed by the contractor and this really burns me. They were never called to task on this,” Bob Fleming, Electoral Area B Director fumed. “They decided in their wisdom that they would cut them off because they didn’t make the slot for them deep enough, when they were installed, and that’s why they lean.”

“The correspondence around this shows a decision was made to leave it alone because of the expense to fix the uprights,” Mike Fox, Regional District North Okanagan General Manager of Community Services said. “We tried shimming them, but it always fails, and the lean is not in the right direction, meaning kicking distances are off.”

Greater Vernon Minor Football is a heavy paid user of the facility, and one of the main backers during the referendum to build the facility.

Other 2021 capital items include; $25,000 for maintenance to the shot put area, $25,000 for hammer cage netting, $60,000 for perimeter path paving from the college parking lot to the bleachers, and $80,000 for line repainting.

(photo/Vernon Matters)

“How is that possible? 80 grand for line painting?” Akbal Mund, GVAC chair asked.

“It’s not like regular line painting on pavement. It is a specialized paint that is for rubberized surfaces, and should last several years,” Fox replied.

(photo/Vernon Matters)

“When we went into this (referendum) user groups were going to pay for some of these extras. That never ocurred, again another disappointment,” Fleming said.

“We are having discussions going forward with users on how we will fund repairs as there is going to be wear and tear,” Fox said. “Right now, for instance, minor football is looking at a fundraiser for a score clock, which could also benefit other user groups. It’s quite an ambitious goal at over $200,000.”

RDNO borrowed $7.53 million to construct the athletics park at Okanagan College as a result of a successful referendum held in 2013.

Increased costs and some soil condition issues pushed the final bill to nearly $8.6-million by the time it was constructed.

The 2021 capital items must still be approved in upcoming budget discussions and by the RDNO board.

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