As an interim measure, we think most people were OK with the idea that Jubilee Arena would serve as a ‘temporary’ cold storage facility.
When the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre opened to much fanfare last summer, most assumed that Jubilee’s date with the wrecking ball was not far off — we wrote the stories of its history and of well wishers lauding its contributions to Westlock.
She had served the community admirably for close to half a century, but it was time to turn off the lights for a final time.
But when news surfaced that facility’s walls were full of asbestos and the modest demolition budget of $200,000 would be but a drop in the bucket compared to the actual costs — speculation is the demo may top $1,000,000 — town officials made the right decision to continue using the site in a limited capacity.
The walls weren’t buckling and the roof wasn’t about to cave in and the asbestos isn’t a health risk to anyone, so long as it stays locked in the walls.
And frankly town ratepayers were done with spending any more cash on recreation — the revelation late last year of the escalating Spirit Centre costs have dampened the facility’s overall positive impact on the community.
So it became the town’s cold storage site, which is an elegant, band-aid solution.
But when does a band-aid become permanent?
One year?
Two years?
Five years?
Now we stand a year out from a band-aid solution that we’ve now learned won’t be dealt with until sometime in 2014.
Without question the town has a lot on its plate with former chief administrative officer Darrell Garceau’s sudden resignation and the upcoming 55-Plus Senior Games later this month, but this is a problem that’s not going away.
Sooner or later, the town will have to bite the bullet and scratch a cheque for the demolition.
Granted, hindsight is always 20-20, but with a bit of planning and budgeting this should have been dealt with long ago.
We’ve got a municipal election coming up, and this will undoubtedly be a topic for would-be councillors and those finally elected to lead the municipality this October.
