Wawa Municipal Council's approved the emergency purchase of material after a major leak at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson explains the glycol leak in the curling rink.
While the system was shut down relatively quickly, Patterson says a substantial amount of glycol leaked in that time, requiring emergency efforts to replace it.
Patterson says that was costly.
Patterson also outlined measures intended to prevent the problem from recurring, including a "float" that could automatically shut the pumps down if levels get too low and a change in the flooring to ensure staff can more easily access the entire "header" to inspect the lines.
Plans to cover the cost of the glycol - taking half from the MMCC's operating budget, the other half from reserves meant for the facility - did face a hiccup, as Councillor Cathy Cannon raised concerns about using reserves, calling for a recorded vote on the resolution, which passed 3-1, Mayor Melanie Pilon and Councillors Mitch Hatfield and Jim Hoffmann in favour and Cannon against.
It was one of three recorded votes in the meeting, with another on a resolution to approve the purchase of a replacement sidewalk blower - Cannon again questioned the use of reserves to cover part of the cost, and was told that the purchase of a new mower was being deferred to help offset that, but staff was not recommending further cuts to avoid using reserves - that resolution similarly passed 3-1 with Cannon the sole vote against, while a resolution to waive the Municipality's procurement policy to approve a proposal for a feasibility study on work for the fire hall and town hall buildings passed 3-1 with Mayor Pilon the vote against, having argued that waiving the policy was bad fiscal management and they could wait to go through the request for proposal process, though the other councillors agreed with the staff reasoning that the proposed companies involved - Mike Moore Construction, Tulloch Engineering, and Nor Mech Engineering - have unique knowledge of the buildings, and a good history and reputation justifying their selection.