Just when everyone thought it was safe to talk about the pool, it seems there still may be some animosity between Barrhead town council and the county council regarding the subject.
At least if you take Tuesday, Feb. 9 town council meeting to be any example.
During that meeting council displayed their frustration over county council’s unwillingness to contribute towards the cost of an expanded pool deck area.
Originally the technical committee for aquatic centre had taken out an expanded deck area as a cost saving measure, however, they decided the area was needed to not only attract more competitive swimming events, but to close the gap between the pool and the curling rink.
Barrhead Mayor Gerry St. Pierre said he sent a letter to county council asking them to consider contributing up to half the cost of the additional pool deck space, in part to give county council a chance to demonstrate good will. A chance for the county to make up for some of the ill will, that has been built up between the two municipalities over the aquatic centre issue.
This is all well and good and town council should be looking at every avenue of not only reducing the cost of the project to its ratepayers, but to also look for ways to improve relations with its neighbouring municipalities.
So it’s OK if the town wants to write a letter to Barrhead County council asking if they want to contribute towards the additional deck space, the operating budget or anything else town council feels appropriate. And it is OK to be disappointed if the answer is no, but don’t be upset and angry if the answer isn’t what you hoped it to be.
Especially when the response is most likely known ahead of time.
In January 2015, town and county councils came to an agreement over aquatic centre construction costs, both agreeing to contribute $5 million. From the perspective of county council, everything regarding what they are willing to do regarding the aquatic centre is contained in that document and unless they make an abrupt change of direction, one could consider the matter closed.
Currently the town and county are in the process of looking into the possibility of amalgamating the two municipalities, a process which was initiated by town council in September of 2014.
No matter which way the amalgamation process takes, whether the two municipalities will remain separate, form into one, or a combination of the two, it is clear a final decision is a long way in the future.
Until that happens it behooves both councils to do their best to work with each for the betterment of each municipality and getting upset over a decision both councils have already agreed to isn’t productive.
