By Patrick Adrian
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CLAREMONT — The city council announced this week that the city can finally address highly needed renovations at Arrowhead Lodge with unrestricted municipal aid received in the new state budget.
Mayor Charlene Lovett said that Claremont received $341,000 in aid this year at the council meeting on Wednesday.
The new state budget included $40 million over the next two years in unrestricted municipal aid ($20 million each year). The amount apportioned to each town or city derives from a formula based on the student population and number of eligible free and reduced lunch students in each municipality.
Claremont ended up receiving $7,000 more in aid than originally projected, according to Lovett.
City Manager Ed Morris said that based on conversations with city department heads and the finance committee, the city has identified four projects as top funding priorities: improving sidewalk drainage in the downtown (estimated to cost $122,000); energy and lighting upgrades at the Visitor Center (estimated at $25,000); air handling unit replacement at the Opera House building (estimated at $142,000); and energy upgrades and roof maintenance at Arrowhead Lodge ($95,000).
Several councilors named Arrowhead as their top priority.
Arrowhead volunteers have reported concerns about the lodge’s roof condition for years. Arrowhead Director Chuck Allen told the council that the roof is covered with two to three layers of shingles, which are bulging and in bad shape. Though he believes the building’s wall insulation is in good condition, the windows, doors and even the poorly-designed furnace allow cold drafts into the building.
Councilor Nick Koloski said he was adamant about committing this fiscal year to fund the lodge renovation.
Koloski, whose 12 years on the council is the longest among the active councilors, said he’s tired of seeing the council punt the issue.
“Enough is enough,” Koloski said. “The lodge is our property. [The volunteers] are generous enough to maintain it, but as the landlord it’s our responsibility to make sure this happens.”
Lovett agreed with Koloski, saying that “this is the time.”
The project would include replacing doors, windows and window frames — particularly on the building’s front face — with energy-efficient designs, upgrading the furnace, and reshingling the roof.
Allen recommended that contractors check the roof condition underneath the shingles as well, since previous roof repairs comprised of adding new shingles to the existing layer, rather than replacing them.
“Arrowhead is a destination point for the community,” Lovett said. “If we do nothing the operating costs will go higher.”
Arrowhead is a non-profit year-round recreation area, managed by volunteers on city-owned land. During winter months Arrowhead offers skiing, tubing and skating. The lodge also hosts a variety of youth programs and private and community functions.
Including the project at the Opera House, the cost of all four projects could exceed the $341,000 in aid, according to Morris. Though, Morris plans to put the project to bid to acquire more detailed estimates.
Finance Director Mary Walter said yesterday that the city does not expect to fund the Opera House project this year, though the hope is to fund it with next year’s portion of aid.
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