Town postpones pool decision

Town of Barrhead Council postponed a final decision regarding the new aquatic centre at a Town Council meeting on Tuesday, August 12.

Councillors discussed the pool situation for over 40 minutes but couldn’t come to a consensus so Councillor Don Smith made a motion that Council defer a decision on the pool until September 9. Town of Barrhead Mayor Gerry St. Pierre explained Council’s decision.

“Obviously, we weren’t going to arrive at a decision last night. This issue has been hotly debated and been on the table and discussed for almost four years. It is too important of an issue for this community to make an ultimate or final decision at a meeting after debating for 40 minutes. Obviously, we weren’t comfortable with any decision we were going to make. We procrastinated for four years so why not wait another three weeks,” said St. Pierre.

A month ago, Town Council provided the County of Barrhead with a letter stating their concerns regarding the pool. The Town requested that the County agree to pay 40 per cent of the net operating costs or pool discussions between the two municipalities would come to an end. In a press release from CAO Martin Taylor, dated July 18, Council said, “Council has given County Council until August 7 to respond to our letter for a yes or no answer, otherwise the project will cease on August 8.”

County Council chose not to provide a yes or no answer to the Town’s ultimatum and St. Pierre addressed that issue.

“As Councillor Penny put it quite clearly last night, we did not receive a response to our letter. We asked for a yes or no and we didn’t receive that from the County. We received a maybe so we thought we should let cooler heads prevail,” he added.

St. Pierre then addressed the concern that Council could be considered “weak” for not following through on their ultimatum, however he doesn’t think that will be the case.

“Not really. We didn’t bluff but after 40 minutes it was obvious that we weren’t going to reach a consensus. With an issue like this, we almost have to be united in whatever decision we make. Our decision has to be unanimous and we weren’t going to achieve that last night,” St. Pierre said. “As I said earlier, what is another three weeks after fighting and working on this for four years but we are still serious about our ultimatum.

“We are not saying we won’t follow through with our ultimatum. We are just saying we want to think about it for a few more weeks.”

St. Pierre went on to explain that Town Council believed that the County would accept their ultimatum.

“This Council thought the County would accept our ultimatum because we were close to coming to an agreement that all they had to do was accept the 40 per cent of operating costs. Maybe it was wishful thinking (that they would accept our ultimatum) but we wanted to salvage this project,” he said. “We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this project for four years so let’s keep it in on life support for the time being to see what we can salvage from it.”

With Council’s decision last Tuesday, the two municipalities will now have almost a month to try and work out their differences regarding the new aquatic centre.

“We have to do something with the County over the next three weeks but the ball is in their court really. I am sure we will be communicating with them before September 9 to see if we can get a little bit closer (to reaching an agreement),” said St. Pierre. “Hopefully, County Council will re-think their position and maybe come a little bit closer to a mutual agreement. Maybe they will go visit this Sprung Structure and realize that this might not be the right type of building for the new pool. Hopefully, they will think about this proposal they made to us some months ago where they agreed in principle to pay up to 40 per cent of the operating costs.”

County Council has scheduled a tour of Sprung Structures head office, just outside of Calgary, for Friday, August 22 and have invited members of Town Council on the tour. During the Council meeting, the town chose not to attend the tour.

“We chose not to attend the tour of Sprung Structures on August 22 because it is not the right building for the right facility in our community. That’s the bottom line. We will not go on that tour because it will not be suitable for here. We have already made the decision that that structure is not a right fit for the municipality so it would be a waste of our time,” St. Pierre said. “However, I can’t prevent anyone from jumping on a bus and going as Mr. Ulmer said he would be doing but I don’t believe it would be a wise expenditure of taxpayers’ money.”

St. Pierre said that he was “comfortable” with the decision Council made at last Tuesday’s meeting.

“I know that some people will feel that County Council called our bluff and we were bluffing, but no. Some people will say that and I understand that. Ultimately, it is too important of an issue, especially when we think there is still a chance we can salvage this project. We are clutching at straws here but lets leave the door open a crack for another few weeks to see if we can’t salvage something.

When asked if Town Council would consider ending pool negotiations on September 9, St. Pierre was non-committal.

“I don’t want to voice an opinion right now on whether or not we will kill the pool on September 9 because that might jeopardize the positive decisions that could be made before September 9. I am torn. I know so many good people that put their heart and soul into this project and, deep down, I still want this community to celebrate the opening of a new aquatic centre down the road,” concluded St. Pierre.