Heath officials cope with flooding damage at Community Hall

By EMILEE KLEIN

For the Recorder

Published: 02-24-2023 7:14 PM

HEATH — Community Hall remains closed after a broken pipe flooded the facility and damaged the sink cabinet, tile floor and the elevator pit earlier this month.

While the leaks have been repaired and the elevator is operational, the floor on the building’s lower level still requires repairs.

The deep freeze on Feb. 3 ruptured pipes at both Community Hall and the former elementary school at 18 Jacobs Road that now houses municipal offices. A split pipe under the sink at Community Hall and an outside pipe supplying water to the former school’s art room caused the flooding.

According to a Feb. 9 report from Building Maintenance Coordinator Tim Lively, the elevator was inoperable from water leaking into the lift pit, which then had to be pumped out. Town Coordinator Hilma Sumner said the Selectboard reported at its Feb. 21 meeting that the elevator is now fixed.

Along with the elevator, the plywood cabinet under the sink sustained moisture but did not require replacement. Floor tiles in the front of the building loosened enough to move when walked on. The Selectboard filed an insurance claim for the floor restoration.

A pipe feeding into the art room of the former elementary school also burst. Thankfully, the leak occurred outside and therefore did not bring water into the building.

The Community Hall closure impacted two February events. The Heath Council on Aging’s square dance that had been scheduled for Feb 18 was postponed to March 19. Healthy Bones and Balance classes, an exercise class for elders led by Town Nurse Claire Rabbitt, have been moved to 18 Jacobs Road until Community Hall reopens.

Lively cleaned up the water at 18 Jacobs Road on Feb. 6 and Community Hall on Feb. 7. Sumner, Post Office Manager Charlene Reynolds, the Heath and Colrain Fire departments, and the Rowe Police and Highway departments all helped clean up the leaks.

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