By Chad Ingram

Published Sept. 21 2017

A number of public spaces in Minden were damaged during extreme flooding in May with anticipated repair costs totalling more than $230000.

During a Sept. 14 Minden Hills committee-of-the-whole meeting community services director Mark Coleman told councillors that many of the damaged areas are not simple fixes.
“They involve a lot of money and a lot of work” Coleman said.

Damaged retaining walls along Riverwalk will cost an estimated $75000 to repair; separated footings along the municipal boardwalk an estimated $50000; damaged retaining walls at Rotary Park will cost an estimated $50000; a dock frame and decking that collapsed at the park should cost $6000 to replace; and the concrete slab at the picnic shelter will cost about $500 to fix.

Additionally the play surface at the playground at Rotary Park was washed out. With the playground some 20 years old and therefore not compliant with upcoming accessibility standards for play areas it was Coleman’s recommendation the township demolish the existing playground and replace it with a new one.

“The play surface area was not built to standards to begin with” Coleman said adding that project has been on his department’s list for some time. “It was on our radar prior to the flood to do this playground.”

A restoration estimate of $50000 for the playground was included in Coleman’s report.
While fencing had been erected around the damaged playground Coleman told councillors that people have been using it anyway.
Citing the potential danger council gave approval for the demolition of the playground and a request for proposals will be issued for the construction of a new one.
Councillors are hoping a new playground will be in place for next summer.
“I don’t want to see that sitting dormant like that for another summer” said Councillor Jean Neville.

Staff have toured sites with a claims adjuster and most projects should be covered in part or in whole through the the township’s insurance policy subject to a $50000 deductible.