Athabasca town council is hiring an owner’s representative for a prospective new pool being eyeballed for near the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
“What the owner’s representative would do for us is essentially they would manage the project from start to finish,” said Town of Athabasca chief administrative officer Ryan Maier. “We have $10 million to build this pool. What they would then do as part of their job is to go out and get a concept and say, ‘Okay, for $10 million, this is pretty much what we can build.’
“Then we would take that concept and go out to the public and get feedback,” said Maier.
Mayor Roger Morrill, who sits on the Landing Pool Administration committee, brought the new council up to speed on the project last Tuesday and noted a number of members of the previous council had wanted to hold off on hiring an owner’s representative.
Morrill said the $5 million commitments from both the town and the county remain in effect, and the town has other capital priorities on its wish list — such as a new library — so $5 million cannot be surpassed.
“My concern is that there is a large probability that the pool will cost more than $10 million, and I think before we go forward with this money that we should iron out exactly where that extra money might come from,” said councillor Nichole Adams.
Morrill said the owner’s representative would get a strict budget of $10 million to plan with.
“Are there any guarantees? No. But … we are setting the parameters when we do the interviews at a $10-million pool.”
Morrill said there would also so be a “slight” fee for service, to “get the ball rolling.” The cost for fee for service, he said, could be around $200,000 to $300,000.
Adams said large construction projects often go over budget.
Morrill said cost considerations will be discussed at the Jan. 8 joint council meeting.
With a recorded vote requested by the mayor, council passed a motion made by councillor Tim Verhaeghe “to approve the hiring of the owner’s representative for the design build of the swimming pool to be built at the multiplex.”
Adams and councillor Tanu Tyszka-Evans were opposed; the mayor asked them why.
Adams said it would be prudent to hold off until further details such as split funding considerations can be clarified with Athabasca County at the Jan. 8 joint council meeting.
Councillor Steve Schafer said a budget of $10 million is one thing, but he hopes the pool will have a “financial commitment” greater than $10 million. He said financial commitments have only been made by two bodies, and more may yet be made.
“I believe we are looking at $10 million, minimum,” said Schafer.
“In some of my conversations with the county councillors, it became very apparent that they’re not looking at a $5 million pool. It was actually mentioned $14 million, and they would be willing to loan us the remaining $2 million,” said Tyszka-Evans.
Morrill said he had never heard such a figure mentioned at pool committee meetings and was concerned by it.
“I’m really discouraged by what you just said,” said Morrill.
Tyszka-Evans clarified the only reason he voted against the motion was because he would rather have council clarify details with the county at the Jan. 8 joint council meeting, and because Adams believed a $10 million could be on the low end and considered a “budget pool.”
Athabasca County Reeve Doris Splane told the Advocate she was not aware of a $14 million pool commitment (nor was Maier when asked by the mayor). She maintained the county is still committed to funding $5 million.
