The rec centre will continue to employ security staff to police the facility’s parking lot rather than install a paid system.
Nelson and District Community Complex manager Marty Benson had raised concerns last December that the well-used parking lot was being filled by drivers taking advantage of free stalls without actually using the facility.
Benson said Selkirk Security Services had previously been contracted to keep an eye on the parking lot and let drivers know if they shouldn’t be there. That arrangement will continue for the time being.
“Any other ideas that were being brainstormed or looked at would change the dynamic of the facility, such as having paid parking, having parking metres, a ticketed parking situation, and it didn’t seem like that was where we wanted to go if we could avoid it. …,” said Benson.
“It’s affordable and it also allows us to bring it in at various times of the year without being locked into it.”
The decision on parking was just one of several updates Benson brought to the Recreation Commission on Tuesday.
Repairs completed during pool closure
Extensive work was done during the aquatic centre’s two-week closure earlier this month. Tasks included a renovated staff office, a tune-up to the heat recovery system, the replacement of the steam room tank, warranty work to fix the pool’s tiles as well as HVAC drainage issues, and the installation of a new water gate to be used during swim meets.
Benson said the tasks completed were far more than what is usually done during the break, and that future closures won’t involve as much work. He added the biggest chore was the emptying of the pool for tile work and the water gate installation.
“For our operation staff to empty the pool, work with contractors to get that work done, to get it filled back up again, heated and balanced in that two-week window was pretty tight. So hats off to the operation staff for making that work.”
Electric Zamboni on the way
On the ice, the NDCC will be getting a new electric Zamboni by the end of October.
Benson said the current Zamboni, which uses propane, has been in use since the NDCC opened in 2005, and that it has the car equivalent of 600,000 kilometres on it with repair costs climbing.
The electric Zamboni costs approximately $160,000. Benson said the model should pay itself off over a 10-year life cycle.
“When we started putting all the numbers together, looking at it from a financial aspect as well as the little benefits that it brings to the arena, it became clear it was the right way to go.”
New collective agreement
The NDCC’s unionized staff also have a new labour deal.
The agreement, which was ratified by the Regional District of Central Kootenay on July 20, covers March 1, 2015 to Feb. 28, 2020 with wage increases of 1.9 per cent for the first year followed by annual bumps of two per cent.
CUPE Local 2262 represents the 61 union workers at the NDCC, which employs up to 125 staff at various times throughout the year.