It was during a Special Meeting Sept. 25 that County Council received a letter from Town Council in regards to the Aquatic Centre, and that letter was addressed during their regular Council meeting on Oct. 7.
It was during a Special Meeting Sept. 25 that County Council received a letter from Town Council in regards to the Aquatic Centre, and that letter was addressed during their regular Council meeting on Oct. 7.
The letter was regarding the Aquatic Centre Funding and the release of the $5,000,000.
“Council is moving forward on the aquatic centre development and made the following motion: Moved by Council to direct Administration to continue the process to plan and build an Aquatic Centre for the community, without further delay, in the most efficient way possible and letter be sent to the County of Barrhead No. 11 requesting release of $5,000,000 for the Capital Cost of the new pool” the letter from Town Council stated.
County Council addressed the letter during their meeting.
Councillor Bill Lane said that with the ultimatum presented by the Town, the deal is off, and with both councils looking at different options, and the county currently awaiting a hard cost, they are at a standstill.
“The deal was over when we didn't reply. I mean if we can't agree on anything we have got to get together and sit down and rehash this,” he said.
“In light of being served that they are requesting amalgamation, I don't think it is fair at this point that council commit to a five million dollar debt to possibly a new council,” Councillor Darrell Troock said, adding that they are still waiting on the hard cost of the Sprung structure.
Later Troock added that the council wanted a hard cost only for their records and knowledge.
“We have asked Sprung to give us a hard copy for our council's justification of where we are going,” he said.
“It is not going to matter at this point if they get our money or not. I think the due diligence on our part is making sure we know where we are going first with amalgamation,” Troock said. “I would like to send a letter back to the Town Council and say at this time until amalgamation proceedings are finalized...we are not committing to any capital projects.”
“I agree with you, that amalgamation trumps anything,” Reeve Bill Lee said.
“You want to talk amalgamation, let's talk with no debt on both municipalities,” Troock added. “To me this is just another negotiation tool and I don't appreciate it.”
Troock made the motion to send a letter stating that due to the introduction of amalgamation, the County Council will not be committing to the $5,000,000.
He also wanted the letter to say that he did not want the new council to be forced to deal with a large sum of debt.
Councillor Doug Drozd commented, stating that if the money was to be transferred it would not come in one lump sum, and that the letter should state the same.
“They aren't just simply going to wake up with $5,000,000 in their bank account,” he said.
“I don't even know if I want to make the motion to go into the detail of the pool, cause to me there is two issues, there is the pool and there is amalgamation. My motion is not to give the $5,000,000 until we sort out the amalgamation issue, once that is sorted out the pool is back on the table,” Councillor Darrell Troock said. “But right now to me, the pool is not even on the books, it is not even an issue… Right now the only issue in front of me is the amalgamation. The pool died with the ultimatum months ago.”
Drozd said that maybe they should work away at the two issues one piece at a time, with amalgamation coming first.
Troock motioned that a letter be sent to the Town Council regarding the funds, but without any acknowledgment of the pool.
The motion was carried unanimously.
