Manuels River Centre expected to reopen soon

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Conception Bay South last week approved a number of big purchases, among them display cabinets for fossils at the Manuels River Center from Crown Cabinets for $37,798, HST included.

The Town took ownership of the not-for-profit run building back in 2024, and while the upstairs portion of the facility is now open for rentals, the downstairs portion housing fossils remains closed to the public.

Mayor Darrin Bent said he hopes the building will be open to the public in the coming weeks.

Still on the subject of procurement during council’s last public meeting, council approved the purchase of a 2026 tractor from Saunders Equipment Ltd., at a cost of $207,120 plus HST, and awarded a contract for the replacement of the Worsley Park roof to SML Renovations and Contracting Inc., for $75,785, HST Included.

Councillor Warrick Cluney said the new roof will be metal, which will cost more than a traditional shingled roof.

Mayor Bent added that he had spoken with a contractor recently who told him metal rooves are not all that much more expensive than traditional rooves, and last longer.

“The idea is that this will be for the long, long, long term,” said Bent. “And it’s important to keep the seniors dry down at the Worsley Park.”

Council also voted to dispose of four vehicles that had been taken out of service.