Town suspends lease payments for arena users

Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The December explosion that wreaked havoc on the Community Centre has made it impossible to safely open and operate other parts of the building, including the auditorium and meeting rooms.

Taber’s Communications Manager Meghan Brennan said while other spaces were “not directly impacted by the blast, the building’s systems are interconnected.”

The complex as a whole shared utilities, HVAC, and fire alarm systems. “Before any portion of the facility can reopen, we must confirm that those systems can be safely isolated and are functioning properly on their own. If they cannot be isolated, we cannot safely open select areas of the building,” Brennan said.

“As part of that process, the Town is currently waiting for the results of asbestos testing. The testing will determine whether vermiculite or other materials may have been carried into surrounding or leased spaces through shared systems,” she said.

“If any contamination is identified, those areas must be fully cleaned and cleared to ensure they are safe for public use. We are anticipating those asbestos lab tests to be sent to us in the coming weeks.”

With the test results pending and unknown, the Town has no timeline for reopening any portion of the facility. Several auditorium and meeting room bookings scheduled for December and January had to be cancelled, and whether or not the spring bookings will be cleared to go on as planned remains to be seen.

“As soon as we have concrete details, the public will know too,” Brennan said. Since the explosion, the Town has been in regular contact with its leaseholders. Council made the decision to suspend lease payments until tenants are cleared for a safe return to their spaces.

In the meantime, many leaseholders continue to work around the disruption and carry on as best as possible. Brennan said, “We are incredibly grateful for their patience, understanding, and kindness during this process, recognizing that this disruption is through no fault of their own.”

Public safety remains the Town’s top priority after an event that could have resulted in grave consequences. Brennan acknowledged that everyone from the municipal government to leaseholders, renters, user groups, and the general public are waiting for answers. Once the test results are available and next steps are confirmed, residents will be informed.

“We have sincerely appreciated the public’s patience while the Town works through a complicated incident,” Brennan said.