Roof replacement bill misses City of Penticton budget

PENTICTON – Repair or replacement of a leaking roof on a city building will be pondered at tomorrow’s Penticton city council meeting.

The councillors will be asked at their meeting tomorrow April 18 to to come up with an additional $140,000 in the 2017 budget to fund roof repairs to the city yards mechanics garage, or use $20,000 from the city’s existing facilities budget to just repair the roof.

In spite of an assessment completed in November 2016 which indicated the roof on the 38 year old building was aging and in various stages of its life cycle, no provision for funding were made in the 2017 budget’s capital requests.

A staff report prepared for council states “conflicting priorities related to facility infrastructure projects” was the reason the work was not included in this year’s budget. Staff is suggesting the city take funds from the assets emergency reserve fund through a budget amendment.

The city yards buildings are made up of a main building with three small additions, as well as several outbuildings. The total area of the main building roof is 23,600 square feet, some of which is still in fair condition. Minor repairs could keep the roof operational for another three to five years.

However, the 7,200 square foot roof covering the mechanic’s garage is 20 years old and is in need of replacement, according to the staff report, which notes such deficiencies as water pooling, blistering of roof materials, compromised roof felts and flashings, and previous repairs that are breaking down.

Several leaks have already been dealt with, including a significant leak that occurred in February.

Staff recommend replacing the roof at $140,000 or, as an alternate recommendation, repairing it at an estimated cost of $20,000, with no guarantees further repairs wouldn’t be needed.

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