Dear Editor:
Will a new pool be justified? Lets take this from a different perspective. Has anyone done an operating cost analysis per day, week, month, and year? What are the revenues that are projected from this new aquatic center? Has there been a demographic study as to what age groups will make the most use of this facility and what should they be charged? What will be the peak usage: fall, winter, spring and summer? Will it be self-sufficient or will the town and/or county continue to support it with tax revenue that could be used for other infrastructure? Provided the county invests 5 million, what is the projected return of investment, when will the pool be paid off since the town has to apply for a 7 million loan? One can certainly see why the county is reluctant for this venture because there aren’t any figures being presented and they don’t have an equal say.
Lets look at the construction side of this project! You people that are 100% for this pool really believe that $15 million is the final cost? This is commercial construction, which constitutes “Force Majeure” meaning to say there will be acts of God (mother nature) that the construction company will endure thus causing delays and project change orders. The proposed bid will most likely constitute inflation on labor and materials with a plus factor above the initial proposal. How long is the project going to take a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of (?) Bottom line, there will most likely be a 20% - 30% increase above the proposed 15 million resulting from change orders. Hypothetically speaking the cost of the project will most likely be more then $17 million.
Bare in mind that the tax increase proposed only constitutes the construction of this new facility! The tax increase does not contribute to the operating costs of this facility! According to the 2012 annual financial report for the Town of Barrhead total revenue was $9,273,465 total expense was $9,765,283 thus having a $491,818 deficit! Even though the Town of Barrhead received government assistance for $2,399,954 it clearly shows that this town cannot even support itself without the aid of the government. Does one honestly think that the government is going to give more assistance to the Town of Barrhead because of an increase in expenses due to the high operating costs of a new pool? Where does the burden lie? You the taxpayer!
If the county residents disapprove the 5 million through their own plebiscite, where will the town obtain the remaining 12 million? Even if the county residents approve the 5 million and the town has 7 million where is the remaining 5 million coming from? The Agrena Society has managed to raise a whopping $100,000! This clearly shows that the towns own residents can’t or won’t even contribute adequate funding. Unfortunately the $100,000 only equates to 1/2 of 1 percent of the entire 17 million! Sorry to say it’s not even a drop in a bucket for a project of this scale! It is highly unlikely that an increase in taxes will even remotely make up for the difference needed and pay for the interest and principle on these proposed loans!
Barrhead is classified as a safe retirement community surrounded by mostly agriculture production. Now lets take this $95 -$99 tax increase for every $100,000 of property value into account. How was this figure derived without showing any kind of a financial calculation? Has the town taken into consideration that there are a very large number of people in Barrhead that are retirees with fixed incomes or pensions? The results will not be favorable for people that are currently residing in a residential house, apartment or assisted living home. People that have a home in Barrhead will face a tax increase from approximate average $150.00 - $800.00 per year (approximation depending on the value of the home). The residents that reside in apartment buildings will see an increase in rent due to the fact that the apartment owner has to maintain a projected budget. The people that reside in the assisted living dwellings (old age homes) will see an increase in rent as well. Their increase in pensions per year is still not justified compared to the increase of inflation per year, meaning to say it doesn’t even equate to an extra meal per month. How does one explain to these senior citizens that their rent is going to increase because of a pool that the majority of them are not physically capable of using? Either way if you are a homeowner or renter you will pay!
All local business in Barrhead will also be taxed thus causing the cost of goods and services to increase.
May it be shopping at the local hardware store, buying parts for your machinery or dinning at a local restaurant we now have the “Snow Ball Effect” all businesses will follow suit therefore people from the town of Barrhead and the county of Barrhead will suffer. Bottom-line the local town venders will increase prices in order to maintain profit margins, most likely causing you the consumer to shop and dine elsewhere.
Why did the town purchase the land before there was even an offering for a public plebiscite? The Town of Barrhead did not even have the decency to tell the residents its future intentions. Barrhead has approximately a population of 4,000 residents.The unofficial results from the plebiscite for the new pool were 934 (for) and 625 (against)! The 1,559 votes do not accumulate to even half of the population in Barrhead. The County of Barrhead has approximately a population of 6,000 and these residents were not given the opportunity to vote on the new pool, but the town wants the county to invest 50%? Understand that the county is conducting its own plebiscite with its residents to justify a tax increase for the approval of only 5 million! This vote does not partake in the decision as to whether or not the aquatic center should be built. Is it accurate to say that out of approximately 10,000 residents a new pool will be constructed based on 15.6 % of the entire population? How is this justified?
The town spent a considerable amount of money on the parking lot for the existing pool, curling rink, bowling alley, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, Senior Drop In Center and Agrena. Is it feasible to build another expensive parking lot at a different site? Are the good residents of Barrhead even aware that the Agrena was designed with a combined cycle? The Agrena cooling units serve 2 purposes, the primary is to keep the ice cold in the Agrena and at the same time the heat produced from these units keep the pool water warm. Very cost effective! You people that are 100% for this pool also realize that this 17 million dollar project will be using the same chlorine system as the old pool rather than a new saline (salt) solution system that is more efficient. Has the Town of Barrhead even bothered to conduct a survey among the residents from the town and county that will not be able to use this facility because of allergies and other complications due to frequent exposer to chlorine?
Has anyone bothered giving any consideration in conducting a feasibility study on a complete remodel? Why weren’t there any architectural designs displayed on a remodel for public viewing? The most cost effective concept may it be residential or commercial would be to conduct a complete remodel at most certainly an eighth to a quarter of the cost compared to a new facility. Structurally the existing pool is fully compliable for a complete overhaul and expansion. It obviously makes too much practical sense to keep the existing facilities in one area with a huge parking lot! Same scenario with the tennis courts, why would they be relocated behind an apartment complex where nobody has the slightest clue where they are! The original location was very convenient, easy accessibility and completely visible from passing by traffic. Just as important, the courts were located in the same parking lot as the rest of the facilities! Is it really that difficult to take down the chain link fence, excavate the existing asphalt slab, pour a new asphalt or concrete slab and reinstall the chain link fence? Of all things, the town decides to make the old courts with frost heaves and cracks in the asphalt a skateboard park! Obviously possible injury and lawsuit was not taken into consideration!
There was a comment regarding when families consider moving to Barrhead the first question they ask is, “what facilities does Barrhead have to offer”? Realistically that is not the first question people ask! People are more inclined to ask: 1) Cost of the house. 2) Taxes. 3) Utilities. 4) Education. 5) Cost of living. 6) Amenities.
Another comment stated that the Town of Barrhead could get funding from local oil companies and businesses. First and foremost there aren’t any local oil companies in Barrhead due to rejection by council back in the 70’s. Why would the local businesses of Barrhead donate money when they know they are going to receive a hefty tax increase?
A comment was made comparing Spruce Grove to Barrhead, sadly to say you can’t compare apples to oranges! Spruce Grove has approximately 8 times the population of Barrhead and most certainly 8 times the businesses if not more. This is not a legitimate comparison on tax revenue for the construction of sports facilities!
One can continue on debating all the previous comments that are 100% for this new aquatic center however facts are facts! Unfortunately there has not been one single concrete solitary fact to support an expensive facility like this! This town is dependent on government assistance because it continues to operate at a loss! Please be realistic here! Do you honestly think that a brand new 17 million dollar aquatic center is going to make people drive to the Town of Barrhead from surrounding counties and abandon their own aquatic facilities? Has anyone given the slightest thought on how much it actually takes to pay back 5 million dollars, 7 million dollars let-alone 17 million dollars? An investor wouldn’t even give this venture a second thought even if the town wanted to privatize the new aquatic center!
For you 934 people that are so adamant for this venture then why not gladly pay the $18,201.30 per person to construct this facility. By all means don’t forget to pay the operating costs on top of your initial investment, and then if there ever is or ever will be a profit you can keep it! This sure sounds ridiculous, right? Truthfully it’s not anymore ridiculous than increasing property taxes for the construction of an entirely new 17 million dollar aquatic center based on a 4,000 populous!
Sad but true this seems to be a form of tyranny and is certainly not fair to the residents in the town of Barrhead and the residents in the County of Barrhead. The town has not publically displayed any past financials regarding maintenance and upgrades to the existing facility. Nor has the town publically displayed a complete budgetary proposal or operating costs for the new facility. Remember, the town already purchased the land before publically announcing the construction of a new aquatic center so they intend to push this through, regardless! This needs to be challenged by all those who oppose, even by legal means if necessary!
Raising taxes and a new aquatic center is not going to keep the youth in Barrhead or bring them back! However if tax breaks were offered to encourage new business in Barrhead then that certainly gives a reason for the youth to reconsider!
Brian Miller
Brian Ohlendorff
