Susan Riley, director of Emporia Senior Center, spent Sunday afternoon scrambling to put buckets and trash cans under new leaks in the center’s roof.
“I’m running out of buckets!” Riley said as she adjusted a trash can to catch a steady drip into the building.
Riley was frantically cleaning up water that had run down from the ceiling in the center’s “Green Room” and into the newly remodeled kitchen. If she didn’t, the water would cause the tile floor to pop up. The next task was to poke a hole in the ceiling tiles to give the water a directed place to go. Riley shook her head as water poured out of the holes.
She moved to the center’s stage area where the carpet and wood were soaked. The television had to be unplugged because water was running onto it.
“I don’t know where to start,” she said as she looked around and observed more than a half-dozen leaks all over the center. “You can’t tarp something because it’s the whole thing.”
Riley said fans can’t be used because they are either burned out from water or there is too much danger of fire.
According to Riley, the roof, which is more than 20 years old, has been leaking heavily for about a year after vandals damaged the building and roof. The roof was patched about eight years ago, but is no longer holding the water out.
The cost to replace the roof is at least $50,000, depending on what is found once the roof is torn off. Riley said she has written grants to cover the cost of the roof and other damages to the building totaling about $80,000. The center’s roof has at least three layers on it and all will have to be stripped and replaced.
“No more Band Aids,” Riley said.
Riley said the center is the hub of senior activities and prides itself for being clean and presentable, but the leaky roof and discolored ceiling tiles are getting hard to stay on top of. It’s time to ask for the public’s help, she said.
The center is having two fundraisers in April to help raise money for the roof and for operating funds.
The first event, Ride for the Roof, will be from 1 to 5 p.m. at Soden’s Grove Park. The public will be able to ride the Little Train for a donation or they can simply drive through the park and drop donations off in cans that volunteers will deliver to cars.
The second fundraiser will be from 7 to 11 a.m. April 28. Chris Cakes will make pancakes for the event. Tickets cost $5 for all-you-can-eat pancakes. Children under 8 can eat for $4. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Holiday Resort or the Emporia Senior Center.
Happiness09 (anonymous) says...
How sad that the leaky roof has been let go for so long. The longer the leaks are let go the worse the damage. It's hard to tell what the total cost will be for repairs.
March 30, 2009 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )