The Friends of the New Landing Pool are standing behind their numbers.
The group came together as a collaborative effort of people who wanted to ensure the project went through.
“We wanted to make sure that we got information out there promoting the benefits and to get across to people that this is a worthwhile project,” said member Anne Karczmarczyk.
Athabasca residents will vote on Sept. 15 on whether to allow the town to borrow $5 million to pay their share of a new pool. The advance poll is Thursday.
The group is confident the yearly debenture payments for the pool will be less than those for the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
Former Athabasca town councillor Lionel Cherniwchan explained the town could afford $5 million to build the pool.
“We have got to put the positive out there. Can we do $5 million? My 22 years of experience on council tells me that yes, we can. When there is a will, there is a way,” Cherniwchan said.
Karczmarczyk believes the construction of a new pool will bring more people to town.
“Newcomers to town look at a new pool in combination with a new school and library, those are things that will bring people to Athabasca,” she said.
“I want it to be the place to come. It already is, but I want more. I think the multiplex can be better.”
Karczmarczyk also doesn’t believe the multiplex hill is an obstacle.
“It is not a mountain, it is a hill. I remind people of this constantly, we need to embrace the geographical layout of our town,” she said.
Cherniwchan said he doesn’t understand the negativity in the community.
“Why would you not want to have a new pool built in our community? What are the negatives?” he asked.
“I realize people are concerned about the finances, but we want to make this a super community.”
Cherniwchan said people would come and live in Athabasca because of the amenities.
And as for those who have complained they were not involved in the process, he said this is normal for this stage in the project.
“Those of us who have been involved with projects, this is the process that we use,” he said. “When the bylaw is passed and we have the money, then we’ll go to an architect. Then we go to the people and say this is the proposed project, what are your comments?”
Cherniwchan explained at that point, public consultation would occur.
“This isn’t something that is being rammed down the throats of the taxpayers of the Town of Athabasca and the citizens of the county,” he said.
“We are going to do that, communicate. When do you start communicating? We like to think it is after the financing is in place and the architect has gone to work. We will show you the pool and then you can say yea or nay.”
