Anmore council will get more detailed information before deciding whether to gut the village hall or tear it down and build a new one.
Last week, village staff were moved to a small, temporary trailer on site when the smells - and sounds - of rodents became unbearable.
The hall has been plagued by rodents for years but in the past few months, staff say, the smell of feces, urine and of dead rodents has reached levels that pose health and safety concerns.
Restoration contractors have found the upper floor is infested with squirrels and mice, and part of the ceiling has collapsed due to the weight of their droppings. In the basement, flooding has resulted in mould.
Council met in a special meeting on Tuesday to decide on long-term solutions but Mayor Heather Anderson said it is going to wait for more information.
"We asked staff to get more information on doing an assessment of the village hall to see if it's possible to do an extensive renovation... basically gutting it and then rebuilding, and also to look at the financial situation to see what funds are available either for an extensive renovation or a new village hall."
Last week, council approved a budget of just over $117,000 to rent a large trailer to accommodate staff for about two years; it's expected to arrive in late January.
Anderson said council will likely be deciding on the hall's fate early in the new year.
DAYCARE LAWSUIT
A civil suit against the Village of Anmore over the construction of a $600,000 daycare has been dropped.
Richmond construction company Avion-Multiplex Construction filed the suit in early 2011, claiming damages and legal costs because it said Anmore breached its initial request for proposals (RFP) when it allegedly dismissed without warning Avion's winning bid for the 45-child daycare and engaged a competitor's bid.
Avion's suit claimed emails sent between Anmore and competing bidder Britco Structures of Langley show the village was dealing with Britco in September 2010, after Avion says it had already been awarded the bid.
A notice of discontinuance was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in February but no reasons were given.
The daycare has since been incorporated into plans for the new middle school in Anmore and the $500,000 grant the village received in 2008 from the Ministry of Children and Families has been transferred to the school board for construction of the daycare.
