Rideau Lakes Township council has approved a contract to repair the deteriorating cistern beneath the Elgin Municipal Complex, awarding the work to a Smiths Falls contractor.
Council approved a bylaw authorizing a contract with Covell Construction Inc. for $61,050, plus the township’s portion of HST, to infill the existing cistern with flowable concrete.
The work addresses structural concerns that have been monitored for several years. An engineering assessment in 2021 recommended repairs to the floor beams within three years.
Councillor Paula Banks asked why this was the first time the horseshoe has heard of this concern.
Manager of Facilities & Parks Steve Holmes said he has included the work in recent budget submissions but it has been taken out.
In the 2026 budget, Holmes included an annual engineering review of the cistern, which Mayor Arie Hoogenboom approved and CAO Shellee Fournier said was what staff did.
A follow-up inspection by Eastern Engineering on May 13 found the bottom flanges of the main steel beams beneath the rear entrance had lost about 50 per cent of their cross-section because of years of damp conditions and poor ventilation. Engineers recommended the issue be addressed by Sept. 1.
Library staff have already relocated bookshelves from a 20-by-20-foot section to reduce the load on the affected floor while repairs are completed.
The project will be funded through the township’s 2026 year-end results because it was not included in this year’s budget.
Story by Grant Deme
