Photo: MBC News
Smiths Falls council is not moving forward with a preliminary engineering review that could determine if preserving the 102-year-old water tower as a landmark is feasible.
The initial review would cost from $5,000-$15,000, with inspections done in 2022 and 2024 identifying concerns such as advanced corrosion, metal loss at the rivets, and structural degradation.
Councillor Jay Brennan felt the horseshoe had all the information they need to make a decision.
Councillor Chris McGuire said they’re going against the recomendation of the municipal heritage committee and the new heritage district policies by not at least exploring the idea of preservation further.
He especially took issue with this, given council had previously put money forth for similar studies before deciding the fate of the former confederation bridge and the old water treatment plant.
Public Works Director Paul McMunn told council the review was intended as a lower-cost first step before any decision on more expensive engineering work or demolition.
Councillor Peter McKenna said, “the old girl doesn’t owe us anything,” with respect to the water tower and now is the time to move on, a sentiment shared by Brennan, Councillors Dawn Quinn and Stephen Robinson, and Mayor Shawn Pankow.
Pankow contested the engineering costs required to get a full picture and recommendation could eventually range in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, should council move beyond this initial study. Preservation would then take the price tag into the seven digits, and felt it was time to move on.
McGuire and Councillor Jennifer Miller were the lone members to support the staff recommendation to commission the review.
Story by Grant Deme
