Barrhead town council is disappointed about the county’s decision not to contribute half of the cost of an expanded pool deck area for the new Barrhead Regional Aquatic Centre.
That was the consensus of town council after a discussion during their regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The discussion came after county council voted unanimously against a request from the town to pay for half of the cost of additional pool deck space on Jan. 22. In leu of money contribution the county suggested they may be able to provide some sort of work in kind.
Originally the technical committee decided against having the additional deck space around the pool as a cost saving measure, saving about $300,000. Clarke Builders, the project manager of the aquatic centre, have stated the cost to be $284,318.
Mayor Gerry St. Pierre said although he was disappointed the county decided against contributing funds for the extra pool deck space, their response didn’t surprise him.
“Let’s remember why we agreed to eliminate that extra space which was originally included in the pool design. It was in response to a letter we received from the county several months ago, where they implored us to reduce the cost of the project,” he said, adding at the time the town agreed to a number of cost saving measures, such as eliminating the diving board, lowering the roof line and eliminating a number of windows.
However, St. Pierre said after the pool design, without the extra pool deck space, was reviewed by residents, stakeholders, and by both town and county councils, it was decided to add the extra deck space, adding it was a mutual decision by all involved. An added benefit of having the extra deck space is that there will not be a gap between the curling rink and the aquatic centre.
“My letter requesting to share the extra $284,000 was sent in hope that county council would seize the opportunity for a good will gesture towards an issue that has caused much tension in our communities,” he said.
One of the reasons county councillors rejected the request is that the amount the county contributes towards the construction costs of the project is spelled out in the agreement they signed with the town in January of 2015.
In the agreement the county agreed to contribute $5 million towards the capital cost of the aquatic centre. County council said residents, in two separate plebiscites, also voted on the amount the county would contribute to the project.
St. Pierre didn’t think the county’s plebiscite argument is valid.
“The county’s claim they are bound by the results of the plebiscites is unfounded,” he said, adding both plebiscites were non-binding. “Even if they were, councils always have the discretion to amend decisions, if it is practical and the sensible thing to do.”
St. Pierre then brought up examples when the town decided to contribute to county initiatives even though they were not required to or projects that town residents didn’t directly benefit from.
The first example he gave was MacGill Estates. Last year county council asked the town to consider contributing to the costs of oiling West Boundary Road.
“We generate no tax revenue from those residents in MacGill Estates, we agreed because technically it is our road to cut a cheque, no questions asked.”
Another example brought up by St. Pierre and expanded on by Coun. Don Smith was the fire department’s purchase of a tanker truck.
Smith explained at the time of the tankers purchase the county and town had an agreement that any piece of equipment that is used basically in one municipality only, the cost would be born by that municipality.
“Our municipality wouldn’t really need the tanker truck that much, but moving forward we hoped to have a 50/50 cost sharing agreement between the two municipalities for full service, so we decided to give them 50 per cent of the cost of the truck,” he said. “To us we thought it was a show of good will because they weren’t asking us to cost share that equipment, but we were trying to move forward as one department.”
Coun. Warehime asked how much the tanker cost at the time.
Although Smith couldn’t remember the exact figure, he said it was in the neighbourhood of $300,000.
Coun. Roy Ulmer said it was his opinion that the two aquatic centre plebiscites the county need were, in large part, to gauge residents’ support for the project.
“So if their residents are willing to contribute $5 million, I am sure the residents in the county would support an extra $142,000,” he said. “So what are we supposed to do? Just sit here and let them reject everything?”
St. Pierre said unfortunately the town would have to accept the county’s decision.
“This to me, ladies and gentlemen, fellow councillors, is why this community should be truly united under one municipal government,” he said.
