By Vicki BROOKER Review Staff
A slightly disillusioned Elk Point Chamber of Commerce saw their train station dream turn onto another track last Tuesday, as president Sandy Smith related the most recent quotes for restoration of the former Myrnam station, one day before the Chamber’s option to purchase expired. Local contractor Harold Lefebvre quoted amounts between $304,000 and $311,000 for cleaning the station and restoring it inside and outside. The higher price would be for new windows, rather than replacing glass in the originals. These figures would be added to the cost of purchasing the building for $12,500 and moving it to Elk Point, which has been estimated as between $13,000 and $20,000, for a total of between $329,500 and $343,500. Cost of a freight shed annex would be in addition to that total.
Lefebvre’s quote for an exterior replica of the original Elk Point station with today’s energy efficient features was in the neighbourhood of $228,000, and includes the freight shed area. The special meeting of the Chamber was called “because we have to let the owners [of the Myrnam station] and the movers know tomorrow,” Smith said. The restored original “would included insulation, but not to the efficiency of a new building,” she added in answer to a question regarding energy efficiency. Also, if the planned new freight shed annex were added to the building, “we would have to have the annex and the building of the same efficiency.”
Lesia Porcina showed the members a metal reinforced Styrofoam block similar to those her store was built with, and which are the material in Lefebyre’s quote for a new building. Cement is poured into the interior cavity of the blocks for a structure that is very energy efficient, Porcina said, noting that her heating bill for the 6,900 square foot store is less than that for her home, which is a fraction of the size.
The results of the environmental tests on the proposed sites were not back, but Smith said, “where we put it doesn’t affect the cost that much.” She noted that the first choice of site, at the east end of the staging area, has no clay base and the water table is extremely high. “When they drilled for the tests, water kept coming up. It was a horrendous thing.” In view of that, “we’re looking at the site across from the hotel.”
The pros and cons of both sites were debated at some length before Smith reminded the group of the need to make a decision on purchase of the Myrnam building. The extensive repairs, utility costs and difficulty in finding new beams if they should be necessary were seen as major problems for that structure. Thomas Kondla, who has obtained plans and information on the Elk Point station, said that it was one of six built in western Canada, none of which are still in existence. “It would be interesting if we could rebuild one. [Building a replica station] is nothing out of the ordinary, Cold Lake and Mallaig are building theirs.”
A motion to build an exterior replica of the original Elk Point station was passed on a 12 - 2 margin, with one member abstaining from the vote. The choice of a site was deferred until test results are in and additional costs related to building on the eastern location are obtained.
The Chamber’s first regular meeting of the new season will be held Wednesday, September 7 at noon at the Empress.
