By Treena Mielke
Rimbey Community Centre users could be stepping on new hardwood by the end of the year.
At its regular meeting last Monday council agreed, in a 3-2 vote, to spent $80,041.95 for a new hardwood floor for the main auditorium of the community centre.
Previously council had debated the advantages of hardwood compared to synthetic flooring. However, Coun. Joe Anglin, who made the motion to purchase the flooring, said he had done research that indicated that injury rates are 70 per cent greater on a synthetic floor. He added that synthetic floors, contrary to popular belief, do require maintenance.
Anglin said installing a hardwood floor in the community centre would be beneficial for youth who need additional space for sports activities.
“We have had to turn kids away in the past because we didn’t have the gym space,” he said. “The facility was built for that. All we’re doing is finishing it.”
Council also discussed potential damage which may be caused by sports teams.
However, Anglin said he believed the damage would be minimal.
“You have more damage from wedding receptions and parties than you do from organized sports,” he said.
Coun. Paul Payson suggested some users could be charged a damage deposit in the future.
Coun. Gail Rondeel who voted against the motion, along with Mayor Sheldon Ibbotson, said the recreation board needs to meet again to discuss flooring.
“If it’s not bringing up revenue, what are we doing it for,” she said.
Ibbotson wanted more time to think about the issue. “I don’t want to push this through.”
Tony Goode, the town’s CAO, is hopeful the floor will be installed by the end of the year.
The floor in the main auditorium is vinyl and was installed in the 1980s.