A frustrated Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly passed a 650-thousand dollar maintenance allotment to make safety repairs at the Mary Siah Recreation Center. Supporters of the Center came to the Assembly chambers last night carrying signs and wearing T-shirts to convince the Assembly to spend the money. But Assembly members are worried the money won’t buy a lasting fix.
Several times in the last year this Assembly moved money away from other priorities into maintenance. Facilities managers estimate the Borough has between 200 and 300 million dollars’ worth of repairs are waiting in borough and school buildings. Always in the background has been the safety problems at the Mary Siah Recreation Center, which former Mayor Karl Kassel had proposed closing because repairing it would be too expensive, and the money would be better spent on a new aquatics center. But that was tabled because of the expense.
Voters rejected maintenance bond issues on last October’s municipal ballot.
David Bredlie, Director of Public Works told the Assembly that last December, a commissioned report identified Priority One Deficiencies that would cost a million and a half ($1,455,455) dollars to fix.
“A Priority One Deficiency is best summarized by a critical life/safety item.”
Since spring a design plan has been completed and an additional 650-thousand dollars ($650,000) is required to finish the emergency upgrades.
“We are now nearly complete with the design, as a matter of fact I think we get bid-ready documents tomorrow. And we have identified an additional $650,000 is needed to move that project forward.”
Repairs will take about five months, during which the building and swimming pool will be closed. Bredlie says repairs could start as early as next February.
Assembly member Leah Berman-Williams asked how much life the project will add to the facility.
Berman: “How long do we anticipate right now, we can keep the building in a condition that we can allow the public in it?
Bredlie: “After the Priority One Deficiencies are corrected?”
Berman: “That’s right.”
Bredlie: “I would think three-to-five years.”
That is disheartening to some Assembly members, like Shaun Tacke.
“It is definitely a band-aid. But I also have the same concern about $2.1 million lasting 3-5 years. That’s amortization of $400-$700 thousand toward a single building we’re intending to get rid of.”
Some commenters said they were disheartened to spend so much money on a “bandaid,” when what the borough needs is a new pool for special users. Mikki Rosser and Cynthia Merkling said they know the borough cannot afford a new facility.
“If Mary Siah, if it’s not funded, it’ll go away, because of safety concerns. And once it’s gone, I’m really afraid it will not return.”
“It means a lot to seniors, and it means a lot to anyone who is disabled. I mean, it’s people like me who will be hurt by its closing.”
Member Aaron Lojewski reminded the Assembly that they have only budgeted 10 million dollars for maintenance this year, and there is 20 to 30 times that in projects waiting for repair dollars.
“Whatever we spend on any one project takes away from others.”
Mayor Bryce Ward called it a “bridge project.”
“It is difficult, I wish we didn’t have to spend the money on the facility, but in order to keep it open, this is what’s prudent for us to do.”
This Assembly voted to approve the ordinance.