Athabasca town councillors will schedule a strategic planning meeting to address the cost of a new swimming pool, a joint project with Athabasca County.
“This is a request as to how much funding the town is willing to allocate at this time to the project,” Mayor Roger Morrill said during last Tuesday's council meeting.
Councillor Paula Evans pointed out that both the Town and County expressed their interest in the project at a planning meeting during the winter, during which the figure of $10 million was thrown around. No firm decisions have been made, but Evans said she thought it was time the Town got down to business on the subject.
“I suggest we need to get our house in order first to see what we can agree to. Otherwise these things get a life of their own,” she explained.
“I think if we cannot at least meet that $10 million requirement, we need to inform our partners or we are going to look very embarrassed. I think we need to do some strategic planning around this council so we can say, ‘Yes, if necessary, we can contribute this much in this many years.’ Otherwise we are dancing with a partner and we’re going to trip them up.”
Councillor George Hawryluk (who sits on the Athabasca Regional Multiplex Committee), on the other hand, said he doesn’t think funding needs to be addressed at this time.
“As a member of the Multiplex Committee, I don’t think we need to discuss the funding,” Hawryluk said. “There is nothing definitive, there is no commitment on anyone or any investors or parties, it’s just talk.
“I would hate to be the one that commits $10 million,” he continued. “Before the Multiplex Committee comes up with a proposal in writing requesting that we consider funding, we should just table it or leave it.”
Hawryluk went on to point out the uncertainty of future projects such as a new library or school, both of which could conceivably be built at the Multiplex, as could a new pool.
“Now all of a sudden, according to the superintendent of schools and the Minister of Education, there is a consideration of additional funding of $20-plus million,” Hawryluk said. “If this project becomes part of it, that is something to consider.”
For her part, Evans wants to see the council sorting through their finances.
“I’m really uncomfortable at all the projects we are looking at and the amount of money we have,” Evans explained. “We need to make some decisions here.”
Councillor Colleen Powell spoke up and urged caution.
“I’m not opposed to the pool, but I am very antsy about the kind of money we might be committing,” she said. “I think a strategic planning session is a very good idea.”
The planning session should be held soon.
