After regular business Tuesday, the Pella City Council will discuss on how to proceed with repairs to the Community Center gymnasium ceiling.
According to city staff, the gym was closed this past spring due to loose ceiling tiles. An engineer estimated the repairs could cost anywhere between $50,000 to $150,000, due to how unknown the extent of damage is.
An evaluation by Klingner and Associates showed the time the ceiling was installed is unknown to the city, who acquired the facility in 1978, with no records indicating work has been done in the last 40 years. The evaluation showed wood joints and steel beams are structurally adequate and moisture is not causing the damage. There are three options to repair the ceiling, including removal of all tiles and replacement of sagging drywall, removal of tiles and glue, or just getting rid of loose tiles and cover the ceiling with metal panels.
The city council will also consider whether or not to make the repairs as soon as possible or wait until the community’s long-term facility plan is developed in December to see what they want to do in terms of renovating the Community Center.