Training facility continues in Kincardine

By Liz Dadson

Kincardine Council

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The old W.E. Thompson Public School at Princes and Russell Streets, Kincardine, will continue to be a training facility for Bruce Power.

In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Dec. 9), Kincardine council okayed a lease agreement to continue the arrangement that has been in place for a number of years. The building is an integral part of Bruce Power's training requirements for the restart of Units 1 and 2, and would continue through the potential refurbishment of Units 3 and 4, said chief administrative officer John deRosenroll.

Based on the agreement:

*The lease will run for 10 years, with an option to renew for five years.

*Bruce Power will invest $560,000 to refurbish the school site, including installation of new roof/parapets to the roof area ($45,000), building envelope upgrades ($215,000), site asphalt paving ($240,000), barrier-free upgrades ($20,000), and power supply/distribution system ($40,000). 

*Bruce Power has donated $175,000 to the indoor running/walking track at the Davidson Centre's new gymnasium.

*Bruce Power will pay all municipal taxes on the training facility.

*Bruce Power pays for maintenance costs on the facility, and all utilities and services.

*The municipality/community may use portions of the training facility, by request, for special events.

*At the end of the lease, Bruce Power will either turn over the use of the training facility to the municipality or remove the building at the municipality's request.

*Due to the financial magnitude of bringing the facility back to building code requirements ($560,000), Bruce Power will not be making any rent payments.

Keith Hawton and Len Arnold of the Bruce Power restart project were at the council meeting to answer questions.

Deputy mayor Laura Haight asked about guaranteed use of the parking lot at the old school for such events as the Kincardine Scottish Festival and the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band's Saturday night parades.

"We have no problem with it being used by the public after business hours," said Hawton.

Councillor Kenneth Craig asked whether the renovations of the building will disrupt training classes.

"We're not sure if we would do that work immediately," said Hawton. "Right now the building is fully utilized. We could go ahead with asphalting the parking lot and the electrical and roofing upgrades."

Final approval on the agreement will come to council Dec. 16.

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Monday, December 14, 2009