Members of the Elliot Lake chapter of The Navy League of Canada are looking forward to a re-build of their headquarters building near Spruce Beach. The organization has been meeting in odd spaces for months after their former location, a building they rented from the city, had to be demolished because it had deteriorated beyond repair.
Navy League representative Tom Turner told members of council this week that meetings have been held in all sorts of odd locations since the old headquarters were taken down. Council agreed to construct a new steel building on a refurbished concrete pad at the site. Since the demolition, the Navy League has paid the City of Elliot Lake some $3,500 in rent even though they haven't had use of their rented space since 2017. The Navy League is also responsible for paying property tax on the building.
Environmental Services Manager Darryl Halloch told council it will cost the city $24,000 plus tax to erect a new steel building at the old site. Of that, $5,500 will spent on concrete, another $3,500 goes towards the installation of the concrete. As for the outcome which left the Navy League with nowhere to go, Councillor Norman Mann said, "It never should have happened." Councillor Luc Cyr added, "The Navy League has been inconvenienced enough."
Mr. Halloch said, "Getting the shell up in 2018 is what we're after."
Most of construction work can be done by City of Elliot Lake Public Works staff. He noted the building will continue to be heated by propane and will need to be insulated with some rooms to be added in the interior of the new steel structure designed by Olympic Steel. He said the building “will be ordered up as soon as possible."
Councillor Chris Patrie's motion to defer action on re-construction with a view to providing a more elaborate structure after a review by the Finance and Administration Committee, failed to get support.