SARAH WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

On February 28, Prince Edward County Council received a staff report detailing the demolition contract for the Wellington Arena. Council approved the recommendation from the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation (PECAHC) board and awarded the contract for demolition of the Wellington Arena to Budget Environmental Disposal Inc. in the amount of $174,250.00 plus HST of $22,652.50 for a total contract price of $196,902.50.

Discussion regarding this item on the agenda was brief, though Councillor Roy Pennell stipulated there must be proper disposal of building remnants to avoid polluting the environment.

“I just want to be positively sure that this company that’s going to be handling this material is doing so in an environmentally friendly way,” stated Pennell. “I’ve read, in other places, there have been operators dump it (demolition material) any place they can.”

Fielding Pennell’s caution was the Director of the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation, Charles Dowdall.

“With each submission that came in, there was detailed requirements they had to provide with regard to disposal,” commented Dowdall. “We reviewed all the submissions, and, with our reference check, that was also a point of discussion. In making the recommendation based on our review, we have no concern that the disposal of the materials will not be done in a responsible manner.”

The old arena was sold to PECAHC in August 2021 for the purpose of building affordable housing. Upon completion of the project, tenancy management and maintenance of the property will fall to PECAHC.