Replacing the water-damaged main floor at Maple Hall is a bigger job than expected.
The entire floor, rather than only a section near the Maple Hall stage, will be replaced. There are a couple reasons for the expanded project.
Town Public Works Director Brian Lease said water from heavy rainfall last November had seeped farther into the building than was evident at first, resulting in multiple wet spots on concrete beneath the floor. Also, matching the remaining surface with a replacement section of maple flooring would have created a noticeable patchwork appearance.
The good news, Lease said, is the Town’s insurance policy will cover the work up to $100,000.
Replacing the entire floor will cost just under $110,000.
Given that scenario, Town Council members during their March 11 meeting unanimously approved spending an additional $9,700 to fully install a new floor.
Lease said the Town has improved drainage near Maple Hall and installed an emergency overflow designed to prevent similar water damage in the future.
In his report to the council, Lease added that rubber springs were placed beneath the Maple Hall sub-flooring when it was laid more than 30 years ago.
“It’s like a floor you’d find in a gymnasium or used as a basketball court,” he said. “It’s an expensive floor.”
The springy floor was likely installed in anticipation that Maple Hall would host aerobics classes, dances, and other motion-related activities. Rubber springs will remain in place to prevent the building’s elevation from being altered.
A Lynnwood firm, PFC Hardwood, is laying the new Maple Hall floor. Lease said the work is expected to run through March 23.
In Other Council Business This Week
- Town Councilor Mary Wohleb, a member of the Skagit Valley Clean Energy Alliance (SVCEA), provided a brief presentation on the Solarize Skagit program, which promotes residential solarization in the area. She said Solarize Skagit will hold a free informational workshop at 10 a.m. April 12 at Maple Hall to help homeowners learn if solar is right for them and to provide opportunities to meet with local installers.
- The Council authorized spending $3,000 to hire bonded and certified flaggers to assist with traffic control for the annual Tulip Parade here on April 5. The Town, acting upon a Skagit Valley Tulip Festival request, and to assure public safety while accommodating larger parade entries, will ban downtown parking immediately prior to and during the 2 p.m. event.
Mayor Marna Hanneman said that in the future the Town will seek help from Tulip Festival officials to cover the cost of providing flaggers for the parade.
“We know how much it brings into town,” Hanneman said of the popular First Street serpentine, “but next year the Tulip Festival will have to figure out where it will come from.”
- Hanneman intends to soon visit La Conner’s sister city of White Rock, B.C. in a local effort to soothe tariff tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
“It will be to present a friendly face,” she said.
Someone suggested that Hanneman ask White Rock leaders if they would enter a float in the Tulip Parade.
