All systems go for new pool

The pool project is set to kick into high gear after the 61 per cent “yes” vote in the Barrhead County plebiscite.

Barrhead Reeve Bill Lee and Mayor Gerry St. Pierre expressed delight with public backing for a new aquatic centre.

Also thrilled was Woodlands Mayor Jim Rennie, who said his municipality was ready to commit up to $1.5 million to the project.

“We are very excited to be working with two other municipalities,” he said.

Rennie said provisions were attached to Woodlands’ commitment. These included giving people in Woodlands County – such as those in Fort Assiniboine and the Goose Lake area – a chance to see the pool plan and have a say.

“This is a huge project,” he said. “I’m glad we now have a chance to move forward with it.”

The March 24 plebiscite saw 643 people vote in favour of Barrhead County contributing up to $5 million towards a new aquatic centre; 408 voted against. The turnout was just under 24 per cent.

The plebiscite came five months after the Town’s own poll, which resulted in about 60 per cent voting in favour of the municipality borrowing up to $7 million for a pool.

Proposed pool designs have been whittled down to a $15.3 million concept put together by Edmonton-based architects Barr Ryder. It features a six-lane pool, lazy river, zero entry pool and a hot tub. The estimated price includes costs for design, consultation and contingencies.

The location of the proposed pool is again open for discussion. Recently, St. Pierre raised the possibility of the pool being built at the site of the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre, which was closed in February.

The other possible location, he said, was on a five-acre parcel of raw land at the corner of 49 Street and 58 Avenue, across from the Petro-Canada gas station. The Town bought the land for $175,000.

Last Tuesday, Lee thanked County plebiscite voters for providing clear direction on the project.

“It’s great news,” he said. “I was very happy with the result.”

Lee said he was disappointed with the 24 per cent turnout, but the focus had to be on the number that voted. He added the County, Town and Woodlands County – the so-called tri-council – would now meet to plan the next steps. Talks are slated for April 7.

St. Pierre said the plebiscite result left him happy and relieved.

“It gives a good indication of what the public wants,” he said. “I’m pleased that we can make some progress.”

Like Lee, St. Pierre said the April 7 tri-council meeting would plot a road map for the project.

St. Pierre said he would like to see a pool construction committee formed – an idea enthusiastically supported by Lee.

Also on the “to do” list, said St. Pierre, is deciding on a location, approving a final design concept and then launching a tendering process.

“That is when contractors will be able to bid on the project,” he said.

It would be a chance, he added, for local companies to get involved and perhaps build a pool for under the current $15m price tag.

St. Pierre hopes pool construction will start by early spring, 2015.

Rennie said the public consultation process in Woodlands would enable residents to study figures on pool costs and usage.

He added he was very excited at an opportunity for municipalities to come together to improve the community of Barrhead and Woodlands.

In his experience, there were three primary considerations on people’s minds when municipalities formed partnerships: an interest in recreation-type projects; new opportunities in the community; and gaining a bigger bang for the buck.

President of the Barrhead &District Agrena Society, Shannon Carlson, who is spearheading a pool fundraising drive, said he would have liked a stronger “yes” vote. However he welcomed the result.

It was now time, he said, for the Town and County to get together and hash out details on how they want to proceed with the project. Hopefully, the Agrena Society will be involved, he added.

Carlson said the positive plebiscite results should provide impetus for Agrena Society fundraising.

“It should be full steam ahead now,” he said.

President of the Barrhead &District Chamber of Commerce, Dave Sawatzky, said he was delighted that 61 per cent of voters backed the pool. However, he would have liked a bigger turnout.

“Hopefully we can now put the debate behind us and move forward with constructing a new pool,” he said.

Sawatzky, who had written a March 7 letter to the Town and County calling for unity over the pool project (see story on Page 3A), said the Chamber wanted to see the community coming together for a common goal.