The Town of Athabasca has committed up to $5 million towards the construction of a new swimming pool.
Town council voted 5-1 in favour of the funding commitment last Tuesday.
A new pool, to replace the aging Athabasca Landing Pool, is expected to be built in partnership with Athabasca County, as an extension of the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
When the matter was brought up during town council’s meeting last Tuesday, councillor Paula Evans immediately brought up money.
“We need to look seriously at the amount of money we have available before we proceed any further with this,” she said. “I don’t want to promise (Athabasca County) more money, and then have them start something tomorrow and find out we didn’t have it.”
Chief administrative officer Ryan Maier said he thought it was too soon in the process to be talking about money.
“I don’t know if we are potentially putting the cart before the horse by committing a figure before we possibly speak with the county,” Maier explained. “I realize that council considers this a priority and wants to kick start the project in some way, (but) committing funding might be a little premature.”
Councillor George Hawryluk asked if a $5 million commitment was attainable at this point in time.
“It is doable, but it would put us in a really tough financial situation,” Maier explained.
Councillor Colleen Powell mentioned that the Multiplex is almost paid off, so that will be one less payment the town has to bear.
However, Powell also expressed concerned over the timing of the funding, noting that if the county wanted to start construction of the pool in March, the town wouldn’t be ready.
“If they wanted to start a year March, maybe we would be,” she said. “I think timing here is absolutely critical. If we have to pay $5 million in the next two to four years, I’m far more equitable about that, but I do worry we are jumping in feet first.
“Making the assumption that it’s a year-and-a-half to two years down the line, I can support that with a ‘could’, not a ‘can’.”
But councillor Lionel Cherniwchan said Athabasca Landing Pool might not have two years left. “I think we have to be very cautious of the fact that our present facility is at the end of its lifespan,” he said. “I don’t think the pool has got two or three years.”
Hawryluk suggested the possibility of a new school being constructed adjacent to the Multiplex is closer to reality. “According to the latest news and local gossip, it seems to be a bit closer to reality than it was a month ago,” he said.
Hawryluk’s idea was that if the projects were to come together, there could be cost savings.
“Maybe it could be a project as a whole complex.”
“The kicker is that it will be another council that takes this forward,” Powell pointed out.
Cherniwchan made a motion to write a letter to the county, stating the town’s commitment of up to $5 million.
“I think I am going to vote against this,” Evans reacted. “I don’t think we need the motion; I think there is too much to go before we do that,” she explained.
Powell chimed in, “I think we need a motion stating we want to work with the county to build a new swimming pool.”
“We have not had a motion to that affect,” she explained. “I can also understand that we need to put a cap on it.”
Evans opposed the motion, while councillor Tim Verhaeghe was absent from the meeting.
