City Councillors have referred a total of $5.5 million for renovations to the Bear Creek Pool to budget deliberations next week. Based on information from design concepts drawn up for Councillors, that amount could provide enough funding for construction of a full 7′ leisure pool, a shallow area for young children to swim, and a lazy river.
Councillor Jackie Clayton feels that it’s important for council to support a facility that will have something for children and families of all ages.
“Sending the $5.5 million amount to budget allows us an opportunity to build a facility that our community can be proud of and would facilitate many, many different age groups within our community. I think that amount will allow us to build something that will go on for years to come.”
Not all Councillors, however, are in favour of such a high price tag. Helen Rice says she is strongly invested seeing the Bear Creek Pool reopened and would like to see council budget enough money to replace the facility, but doesn’t want to go overboard.
“My concern with the motion that was made was that it included too many enhancements. I believe if you start to get too greedy you run the risk of losing the whole project and I don’t want to see that happen.”
Rice had initially put forward a motion proposing that the Committee of the Whole refer $4.4 million to the budget for renovations to the outdoor pool, but that motion was defeated. It was followed by Clayton’s motion for the $5.5 million, which was approved by a vote of 4-3.
Councillor Lorne Radbourne, however, says Clayton’s proposal is by no means a final number as council will debate the total amount that they are willing to spend on the project when they discuss their budget for 2016 on Thursday. He says this is likely to be one of the biggest items up for debate next week.