City spent $77,000 on new locks at new Minoru Centre

Maria Rantanen

The City of Richmond spent almost $500,000 in 2022 on upgrades to the aquatic centre at Minoru Centre for Active Living that’s been open for about two and a half years.

This included $77,000 to replace locks in the changing rooms, which weren’t functioning properly because of moisture and the “chlorinated environment” in the changing rooms

The changing rooms were designed as an open concept to reduce theft, however, this allowed humidity to then enter those areas

And because replacement parts were no longer available for the lock, they had to all be replaced, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams

Furthermore, about a year ago, the dehumidification coils at the aquatic centre froze and burst during a particularly cold spell of weather, so the city had to spend almost $150,000 to replace them

In other upgrades, the city installed window film at the centre, at a cost of $84,000, to reduce glare on bright days to better allow lifeguards to see swimmers

Added to these capital costs at the centre was $164,000 for a three-year contract for the delivery of CO2 and storage tanks

Other big-ticket items in 2022 listed in the city’s financial documents include the Richmond Ice Centre, off No. 6 Road, the Minoru Lakes project and repairs to the Richmond Provincial Courthouse

The contract with Wilco Civil Inc last year to rehabilitate the Minoru Lakes was worth about $8 5 million

More than $9 million was paid to PCL Constructors Westcoast on infrastructure renewals at the Richmond Ice Centre, done in two phases

An early morning collision on Highway 91 eastbound in Richmond left one vehicle in a ditch on Sunday Richmond RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision just before the Nelson Road exit shortly after 1 a m on March 5 No injuries were reported Police are saying alcohol is being considered a factor in the ongoing investigation