CETC still standing after heavy snow load

Despite a heavy load of snow on its suspect roof, the Community Education and Training Center is still standing at the corner of Main and Wall streets in Colfax.

“I haven’t heard a word about it,” said Bob Reynolds, facilities manager for Whitman County, which owns the building.

The CETC roof was damaged by a heavy load of snow and ice after a large storm in January 2009. County officials have closed the building for the winter, as they did last winter, out of fear of its roof failing under heavy snow.

Monday night’s snow was especially heavy, as temperatures hovered just above freezing, making big, wet flakes.

Phil Meyer, county maintenance operations manager, said crews reported slow snow plowing as they tried to move heavy loads of snow off roads around the county.

Reynolds told commissioners earlier this year that repair estimates for the roof range from $40,000 for monitors and a roof heating system for $160,000 to fully fix the roof with new support beams.

The county’s insurance company, Traveler’s, has said it will only cover about $19,000 of the repair cost.

County officials have since debated whether to repair the building, tear it down or sell it.

The CETC building was constructed by the Colfax Elks Lodge in 1972, after the club’s former home burned down. When the lodge folded, the building was deeded to a community organization with the hopes it would become a satellite training center for the Community Colleges of Spokane. The building was eventually given to the county by the Port of Whitman.

County leaders also suggested asking Colfax officials if they would want to share the cost of keeping up the building. The port earlier this decade withdrew its $5,000 annual maintenance contribution.