The Editor:
With regard to the letter "Respond to criticism" in the March 7, 2012 edition of the Mercury, unfortunately it is necessary that I have to defend my comments.
It was not intended for criticism, but stating facts that had transpired at council meetings.
The invoices for $4,306.40 and $8,820 for windows and doors and roof repairs were paid, but the Town gets the GST back for a discount of $615.75. The invoice for $989.28 for insulation and gyproc was never paid for, nor was the product delivered to the club.
I did look at the invoices as I signed the cheques for them. I double-checked with the lumberyard on the third invoice. So the total spent minus the GST and invoice for $989.28 was $12,510.65.
As for the door opening inside, they were ordered to open outward and were 36"x80". If wrong, they would have been replaced for right ones. The windows were ordered to fit the exact openings with no structural change.
The shingles have no bearing on whether or not it could be designated a heritage building; talking to the Heritage Society, upgrades are necessary. It's too bad that since a grant of $13,500 was given to fix up the building and started, it wasn't carried on.
As per the letter from Ron Joss, there was no reply as he didn't state that on the letter, but had questions and facts on it as to the future of the club building was unfortunate, that more work would have been done.
From Dec. 17, 2007 until Sept. 27, 2011 when the title was changed, the heat, power and insurance were paid by the Town and the building sat empty. With proper correspondence, the building could have been used as a community centre for youth and seniors as it was fully equipped.
Gary Hammett
Bienfait, Sask.
