Call for big pool plebiscite turnout

“Come out and vote.”

With the March 24 County pool plebiscite just six days away, Reeve Bill Lee and Barrhead Mayor Gerry St. Pierre issued this joint plea last Friday.

“We very much encourage people to vote,” said Lee. “We want to know what they are thinking.”

Lee hoped County ratepayers would send a clear message to the municipality.

Although not legally binding, said Lee, the plebiscite is an indicator of public feeling about an issue that could affect their taxes.

“I hope it isn’t a 50:50 outcome,” he added. “There is a better chance of a majority decision if people come out and vote.”

Lee’s comments were echoed by St. Pierre. The two leaders both say they are in favour of an affordable pool.

“I would encourage people to vote ‘yes’ for a pool,” St. Pierre said. “I am optimistic that the County residents will realize the importance of this project so we can go forward with it as soon as possible.”

Residents on Monday will be asked: “Are you in favour of the County of Barrhead No. 11 borrowing a maximum of $5 million dollars for the purpose of providing a maximum $5 million dollar contribution to the Town of Barrhead for the Town’s construction of a swimming pool?”

Recently it emerged County residents can expect to pay about $40 per $100,000 of property tax assessment for 20 years if the municipality borrows $5 million.

Voting will take place between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Dunstable School, Tiger Lily Hall, Neerlandia Christian Reformed Church Fellowship and County Office Administration Building.

Advance voting takes place tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the County Office.

Voters are reminded to bring identification for inspection.

Last year the Town went through a similar process leading to an Oct. 21 plebiscite.

Town voters were asked: “Subject to fundraising $1,000,000 from other sources, do you support the Town of Barrhead borrowing up to $7,000,000 to finance the $15,000,000 new aquatic centre, with the understanding that it will result in an estimated tax increase of $95 for every $100,000 in property assessed value and the project will not proceed unless the County of Barrhead supports the project at 50 per cent of the costs?”

Nine hundred-and-thirty-four voted “yes,” 625 voted “no.”

Some people have asked how County residents should vote if they want their municipality to contribute up to $7 million to a new pool.

At a March 5 joint council meeting – which the County did not attend, believing it should be held in private – St. Pierre raised the same question.

Last week, he agreed with Lee that people wanting the County to fall in line with the Town should answer “yes.”

If they wished to make additional remarks, he said, they could to do so through comment sheets at open houses and becoming engaged in the public debate.

In the lead-up to the County plebiscite, public meetings about a new aquatic centre have been held at Dunstable School, Summerdale Hall and Mellowdale Hall, attracting large crowds. Residents have been able to see the proposed $15.3 million design concept put together by Edmonton-based architects Barr Ryder.

It includes a six-lane pool, lazy river, zero entry pool and a hot tub.

The estimated price tag includes costs for design, consultation and contingencies.

The final design has yet to be ratified by the Town and County.

St. Pierre said he expected that would happen “as soon as possible” if there was a yes vote in the County plebiscite.

Up to now, both municipalities have split the $30,000 costs for preliminary Barr Ryder pool drawings.

“If the project goes ahead, the next step is to draw the blueprint for the pool,” said St. Pierre.

“That could take several months.”

St. Pierre sensed the Town and the County were coming together over the project.

He believed this process was helped by news the Town was now considering building a new pool at the existing site. Until recently, it was understood the pool location would be on a five-acre parcel across the highway.

St. Pierre said a big advantage of the existing site was a saving on costs of parking and landscaping.

In the Barr Ryder pool concept, these expenses come to $600,000.

“There is potentially a big saving to be made,” said St. Pierre.