Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - Council has approved additional funds to cover the cost of renovations to the Ilderton Arena. At its May 6th meeting Council gave the green light to for overages totalling almost $339,000 to be covered by the municipal Building Reserve Fund.
The extra money was needed to cover unexpected costs in a number of areas. These include infrastructure work on sewers because of aging pipes that were uncovered when work began. Another added cost relates to the front-end vestibule. A report to council notes: “original footings from 1972 were found to be rotten and needed to be excavated and fully replaced, further contributing to the project’s delays and structural concerns.”
The total cost of the renovations comes in at $4 million. Last year, the municipality was awarded a $1 million grant from the province for the project.
The renovations and planning were years in the making, with budgeting starting in 2023. The primary goal of this renovation project was to extend the operational lifespan of the arena by an estimated 10 to 12 years. According to the staff report: “Planned improvements were designed to address accessibility, boost energy efficiency, and enhance safety measures for all arena users.
“The people of Ilderton and the rest of the community are so happy with the improvements we have,” said Ward 1 Councillor Jean Coles, when the matter came up for discussion at the May 6th meeting.
