North Bay council ponders cost overruns for arena renovations

North Bay city council has found out more about how renovations to the city's arena went nearly $4 million over budget.

The facelift to the aging Memorial Gardens was needed to attract a new Ontario Hockey League team to North Bay.

City councillors approved a $12.6 million project, but staff did not keep them updated on cost overruns during the hurried six-month construction.

Deputy mayor Tanya Vrebosch said she was always skeptical that the arena repairs would come in on budget.

"I think most people thought you can't get it done for 12 million, but that's when we rely on staff to tell us where are we at. And that's where there was a gap in communication and unauthorized spending, she said.

After learning about how the overruns at its meeting Monday night, Vrebosch said North Bay city council will now look for ways to tighten up its procedures, especially when it comes to major projects.

Vrebosch said she doesn't think the city needs to totally overhaul how it manages big projects.

The big thing is we need to react, but we don't need to overreact, she said.

So, we need to change our procedures slightly so that this doesn't happen again."

Rejuvenating Memorial Gardens was worth it, Vrebosch added, even at a price tag of $16.2 million.

Covering the bloated tab for the arena renovations will take a bite out of the budget of every city department.

And, Vrebosch said, she expects the over budget project will become an issue in this fall's municipal election.