The current swimming pool situation facing the Town and County of Barrhead could prove beneficial to improving future inter-municipal negotiations.
As of press time, the County has made a proposal to pay $5 million towards building the new pool and up to 40 per cent of the operational costs once the building is complete. Town of Barrhead is willing to pay $7 million towards the construction of the facility but wants the County to split the operational costs 50-50, along with matching the town’s $7 million.
During any type of project, it is important that one or both of the parties be willing to negotiate on certain stumbling blocks and be willing to accept a different offer for the benefit of the entire region.
The county’s offer is fair and the town is being very generous with their own offer of $7 million towards building the facility so it is of the utmost importance to find some middle ground so this project doesn’t come to a screeching halt.
When municipalities start working on projects like the new pool, it is imperative that they do not look at the small things but look at the project as a whole. Finding common ground is key and the town and county have a firm base to get this project started.
The future of the pool will now depend on the town’s willingness to bend in their demands from the county. For any project to get started and be successful, both parties must have the best interests of the community at heart. This is the case as both parties have admitted that a pool is of the utmost importance to the residents of the region.
This is a rare occurrence in municipal politics and one that should not dissolve because one or both parties aren’t willing to bend (at least a little). If the two municipalities can agree on the financial structure of this new facility and both parties are willing to give in on some of the other concerns then a pool should be in Barrhead in the next few years.
If, over the next few weeks and months, the Town and County of Barrhead send out a press release announcing the construction of a new swimming facility then it will be a win-win for the residents. More importantly, it will be a winning situation for both Councils as they will have found a way to achieve common ground because regional cooperation is what municipal politics is all about.
