Athabasca residents decided to allow town council to borrow $5 million in today's plebiscite, which will see the new swimming pool project go ahead.
Athabasca residents decided to allow town council to borrow $5 million in today's plebiscite, which will see the new swimming pool project go ahead.
The plebiscite question, “Are you in favour of the Town of Athabasca borrowing $5 million for the construction of a new swimming pool? ” was asked to every person who came to vote. The answer, with 364 out of 566 votes, was yes.
Anne Karczmarczyk, member of Friends of the New Landing Pool, said she was “ecstatic ” at the results.
“It's been a collaborative effort. I'm also so happy that people took the time to vote and have their voice heard, ” she said. “Now we can all move forward with the process. ”
To Karczmarczyk, the vote comes with a sense of relief and a willingness to continue helping with the pool.
“I'm looking forward to seeing it all come together. The planning and the public consultations are definitely going to involve the people, ” she continued. “Personally, I'm looking forward to talking to businesses, doing grant applications, going to fundraisers. ”
“That's a pretty decent turnout, ” said Nicole Adams, one of the councillors who originally voted against the loan. “I think at the last election, we only had 800 turn out. I guess for this kind of turnout, it's pretty good. I'm glad the people had their say. ”
Adams said she pushed for a plebiscite to make it a decision made by the people, instead of the council.
“One thing that's great about putting this to a public vote is in the end, people always get what they vote for, and that's true of government of any level … If this is what people want, then that's what they get. They get a pool, and hopefully it will be a decent one. ”
The next step in the process will take place tomorrow at the town council meeting, where the bylaw allowing the loan will be put to another vote.
The new pool, which is slated to be built adjacent to the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, has been on the public's radar for several months, with both those wanting people to vote “no ” and “yes ” putting posters all over windows and on Facebook.
