Council approves clock tower repairs

Council approved moving ahead with repairs to Tillsonburg’s clock towers at its last meeting. The bricks will be redone this year, and if a grant is successful, the roof and windows may also be replaced. (File Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg’s Rotary Clock Tower will get a much-needed facelift this year.

At the April 13 council meeting, council learned that the clock tower was in worse shape than originally thought, based on a study approved in November. Completed by Pow Peterman Consulting Engineers and Hazen Masonry and Restoration, the study found the exterior brick on the south and west sides to be in poor shape. It also noted “saturation of both the exterior brick and interior concrete block, with signs of deterioration showing on the interior block as well. The lack of moisture barrier and internal climate control results in water intrusion and the inability to evaporate that water, causing deterioration of the masonry due to expansion from freezing.”

Replacement of the roof, as well as windows and doors, was also recommended within the next one to two years. The total estimated cost of all the work was $394,000.

Although metal cladding and stucco were also looked into as alternate finishes, it was recommended to stick with brick. Reconstruction would be with an air space and vapour barrier between the new brick and concrete blocks.

An application was made to the Rural Ontario Development Program for the entire project, which, if successful, will cover up to 35 per cent of the costs.

The recommendation in the report, which council endorsed, was to proceed with the entire project if the grant was successful, and if not, to proceed with brick replacement, which is budgeted in the 2026 budget at $200,000. If the grant application isn’t successful, then the roof, windows and doors would be referred to the 2027 budget.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy asked with the freeze-thaw cycles and whether there would continue to be a problem.

“Is there any guarantee this just isn’t going to happen again,” she asked.

Adam Kannawin, Manager of Parks and Facilities, answered that there was no guarantee, but the intent was to look at the interior of the building in the future to address this. He added that the original brick was used, and the new brick will help.

“This addition will give us a few years to add an HVAC system,” he added.

Coun. Chris Rosehart pointed out the town inherited the clock tower, and the brick was never sealed. She asked if the intention is to seal it after replacement.

Kannawin said the intention is to follow the contractor’s maintenance instructions, saying he believes it needs to be sealed every five years.