Plans to put a daycare into Melfort's Historic Post Office have been shelved because of lead-based paint in parts of the building. (File Photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Doug Lett

Lead paint in old post office

Lead-based paint overturns plan for daycare in historic Melfort building

Apr 11, 2023 | 8:00 AM

A plan to put a daycare into Melfort’s Historic Post Office has been put on hold.

That’s because high levels of lead have been found in some of the paint used in the building, which dates back to 1912.

“Testing was done….because there was a plan that a Melfort daycare was going to be leasing it,” said city councillor Brian Enge. “Certain areas of the interior of that building…were deemed to be beyond a safe limit of lead in the paint.”

Back in December, Melfort Daycare Co-operative approached council with a plan to lease space in the building for a school age daycare.

However, Enge said the testing showed it may not be safe.

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He said work will have to be done to remediate the problem, but did not have any firm time line on when that might be finished.

“So until then, I hate to say it the historic post offices is closed (to the public),” he said.

Back in December, councillors discussed the fact the city has been trying for years to find users for the historic facility.

The city owns the building, and it has been declared a municipal heritage property.

Lead-based paint was widely used in Canada until the 1970’s, when rules were brought in to limit its use.

Lead was used because it offered better protection against moisture, and offered better durability.

doug.lett@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @DougLettSK

by Doug Lett

Lead-based paint overturns plan for daycare in historic Melfort building

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