While much of the focus in recent months, as far as arenas go, has been on finding a location for a new build, maintenance and upkeep continue at existing sites.
North Bay City Council unanimously approved a recommendation to award a contract in the amount of $213,700 (plus HST) to J.G. Fitzgerald & Sons Ltd., to replace the 40-year-old Pete Palangio Arena’s roof. The funding will come from the 2017 capital budget, according to the report.
The replacement has been deemed necessary by City staff who report that the membrane on the roof has deteriorated and the portion of the roof where the HVAC units are located is at the end of its useful life.
Councillor Mark King, Chair of Community Services says it is crucial for Pete Palangio Arena to continue to operate efficiently for as many years as it has left. Estimates say that the arena, with ongoing rehabilitation, can be safely used for 10-15 years. Many of the dressing rooms and showers have recently been refurbished after a mould scare in 2010.
King, who also chairs the special Arena Committee that will present findings about the new arena project to Council, says that safety is paramount to the City’s efforts at Pete Palangio Arena, adding that while it may not quite be up to the standards that players and coaches from southern Ontario are accustomed to, “it is the best we can do at this point.”
