Has arena micro pile work started? ‘I don’t believe so,’ says Interim CAO

After the most recent council meeting on November 12, the micro pile foundation work approved on October 31, was believed not started yet

No roof or foundation work was in evidence Friday or Saturday at the Elliot Lake Centennial Arena. Photo: November 15, 2024Stephen Calverley for ElliotLakeToday

Three different solutions have been proposed for the foundation issues discovered at the Centennial Arena late this past spring. The first, screw piles. The second, outriggers. And most recently, micro piles.

The micro pile solution was approved as a sole-sourced contract cost of $1.594 million at a special council meeting on Thursday, October 31.

At that meeting, staff informed the council that the cost was approximately $500,000 more than the outrigger solution, which had become unsuitable due to site conditions.

Estimated timeline for foundation work

When the outrigger solution was proposed by Dr. Tingley of Wood Research and Design on August 7, Tingley told council he expected the foundation work would be completed by the end of November.

Subsequently, at an October 31 special meeting of council, staff said the change to micro piles was still expected on the same timeline as the outrigger solution.

Immediately after the November 12 council meeting, ElliotLakeToday asked Interim CAO Rob deBortoli if the micro pile work had started yet.

"I don't believe so," he replied.

ElliotLakeToday subsequently reached out twice for additional information about the apparent delay. There has been no response by the time of publication.