Youth center floor sparks debate

Tag : center air conditioner


Concerns over the longevity of the maple floor inWheatfield’s youth recreation center led to a difference ofopinion at Monday’s town board meeting.

At last month’s meeting, Recreation Director Edward Sturgeonvoiced his concerns that the hardwood floor would warp in the humidsummer weather without the installation of an air conditioningunit. His concern is the floor’s board will absorb the water,expand and buckle.

Mike Mueller, who served as project manager on the job, said hestands by the manufacturer’s recommendation that the flooringwill be fine if fans blowing air are kept on around the clock inthe more humid months. The firm that constructed the floor took itsspecifications from the manufacturer and if fans are used properly,the floor should be fine, Mueller said.

“With proper circulation, that should never be aproblem,” Mueller said. “But the specs say that thefans should be going 24/7 and when I’ve been there thathasn’t been the case.”

But Sturgeon said that in 90-plus degree heat, the young kids whoplay in the facility could get sick and that the large fansaren’t a safe enough alternative to an air conditioner.

“I’m not going to be responsible when some 5- or6-year-old kid sticks his finger in these fans,” Sturgeonsaid. “The grates on those fans are not small enough to besafe at floor level.”