Kincardine council

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Kincardine councillor Ron Coristine said the problems at the Kincardine Community Medical Clinic are like a bad dream.

"No, they're more like a nightmare," said councillor Maureen Couture.

And they aren't going to go away.

Once again, Kincardine council is being forced to spend more money to fix a moisture problem in the clinic basement.

In committee-of-the-whole last night (Dec. 14), chief building official Michele Barr explained that in August, municipal staff was told there was moisture accumulating under the flooring material in the lower level of the clinic.

Since then, staff has been working with Parkin Architects which designed the clinic addition and renovations, and Conestoga Rovers which installed the drainage system at the clinic, to review the problem, said Barr. Various locations in the basement have been monitored and tested for moisture levels.

"The clinic appears to have a chronic moisture condition," Barr said. "Therefore, there's a need for breathable flooring material that does not trap and condense moisture vapour."

She said the concrete slab sat exposed for two years during renovations and there was no indication of moisture. Once the current flooring material was applied, the moisture vapour began to be trapped and began to condense beneath the flooring material.

The architects have determined that the appropriate floor is a porcelain tile with portland cement grout, said Barr. The flooring material is breathable and will allow the moisture below the slab to continue to evaporate similar to the exposed concrete floor.

The estimated cost is $138,000 including architect's fees of $5,000 and a 10-per-cent contingency.

The work would be tendered in January, 2012, and work proceed in February/March, 2012, said Barr, in conjunction with the set-up of the new Family Health Team, and in co-ordination with McKechnie Pharmacy which are both on the lower level of the clinic.

Coristine asked if any consideration was given to proper flooring in the basement during the previous renovations which were completed in 2010.

"We hoped the half-a-million-dollars in drainage work that was done before that, would have rectified the problem," said mayor Larry Kraemer.

"It was not the best flooring, unfortunately," said deputy mayor Anne Eadie. "Why are we paying $5,000 in architectural fees to lay a floor?"

Barr said the architect is required to draw up the tender document for the project.

"Well, we don't want to delay the Family Health Team any longer," said Eadie. "We've been trying to get that off the ground since 2005. It's just like any other thing, we haven't got much choice."

"I agree, we can't not do it," said councillor Candy Hewitt. "But I'm disappointed that we've fallen into another loophole. This should've been fixed in the first place."

As for the architect's fees, since Parkin had okayed the original flooring, Hewitt asked if there were any way to mitigate or dispute those fees.

Barr said that the problem was considered fixed when the drainage works were done, so the original flooring was installed.

"Why not do a tender ourselves to have the ceramic tile floor installed?" asked Couture. "Why do we have to do it through an architect?"

Barr said there is a lot more involved in the project than just the flooring. The existing floor must be removed, and doors may have to be raised to allow the new flooring, plus other associated work. Also, the pharmacy would have to be relocated again while the work is being done.

"If we don't deal with the architect, what happens?" asked councillor Kenneth Craig. "Do we get a bill for $5,000 anyway, from Parkin Architects?"

Barr said there would be no bill.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011