Town of Sundre officials are investigating options for a new washhouse at Greenwood Campground.
The municipality has $197,150.55 from the Province of Alberta Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP), to be spent specifically on flood mitigation within the campground.
The funds are left over from the money the municipality received through the DRP after applying for various projects after last year's flood.
Officials say all of the flood mitigation work that was needed in the campground has been completed, except for the washhouse.
The current washhouse is 20 years old and received damage from the 2005 flood as well as the 2013 flood. It is currently located in the flood plain.
It was repaired after last year's flood and was opened for the campground season.
“The existing washhouse is operable, but it has sustained damage,” Jacci Hager, the town's manager of community services, told the Round Up.
“So it's kind of like a car seat. A car seat has an expected lifespan and if it's in any sort of accident where any of the components are stressed, you replace it even though it's not broken in half,” said Hager.
Town officials believe the remaining funds should be spent on a new washhouse.
During the council workshop meeting on June 9, Hager told councillors that she believes a new washhouse should be rebuilt elsewhere so that it's not in the flood plain.
She suggested it be built in between the east museum fenceline and the entrance to the campground. It would be built one metre above the flood plain.
As well, the gas service is in the back of the current washhouse, and if it is damaged by flood waters, it could leak or shut down gas service to the entire east side of town, as well as the local business community, according to officials.
The options council reviewed included spending $88,000 for a cinder block washhouse, $138,000 for prefab, $67,000 for concrete, $150,000 for metal, or going with a stick-built washhouse, which officials did not have an estimated price for.
Mayor Terry Leslie said he prefers the stick-built option, and Coun. Myron Thompson agreed.
Coun. Verna McFadden said concrete would be easiest to maintain, and suggested making a concrete building look wooden.
Coun. Paul Isaac said he would not agree to a metal washhouse because it is too expensive.
Hager said each option would have different maintenance requirements, and that additional costs would include $1,500 for the gas service, plus site costs.
She is hoping to have the new facility built by fall.
The discussion was to be continued at yesterday's council meeting, where officials planned to have the estimated price for a stick-built washhouse available for council.
“After we go to council on Monday night for a formal approval, we would then begin the process to build a new washhouse in a new location. And then once that new washhouse is complete and operable we would remove the existing washhouse. So there would be one washhouse in the campground,” said Hager. “We wouldn't keep the two, from a capital perspective, and the campground is actually not large enough for two.”
