Klemgard park shelter to see new metal roof

As soon as weather permits, Whitman County Parks staffers will begin ripping cedar shingles off the shelter at Klemgard and laying down new roofing.

“It’s leaking in a few spots. That roof is like 35 years old. That’s about how long those roofs last,” said Dave Mahan, park ranger for the county’s Klemgard park.

Mahan ordered $4,500 in metal roofing supplies last month. They were delivered Jan. 11.

“I’m waiting for a chance to get up there when it isn’t snowing or blowing 40 miles per hour winds,” Mahan said.

He plans on bringing in park volunteers and park board members to rip off the old shingles and lay down the new metal roofing.

The metal roofing tiles are already cut to size for the shelter. The underlying framework forming the roof of the shelter does not need replacing, Mahan said.

“In theory, if I’ve made my measurements correctly, all we have to do is grab the right piece,” he said.

The parks department budget is stretched thin this year, like other county departments. Mahan pointed out they won’t be replacing the roof out of the regular parks budget.

Instead, the parks department will draw from the ongoing funds they receive from the donation boxes located around the parks, in addition to the park’s planned giving account.