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City to use pool grant to reduce borrowing amount

City council has decided to lessen the borrowing burden on the city in building the new pool downtown.

The federal and provincial governments granted the city $10 million last year to go toward building of the new pool. The question then arose whether the city would borrow less money or add on to the $35 million cost of the pool. Turns out, it’s a little of both.

In an effort to make the new pool more appealing to users, council, in a split vote, approved the addition of a $500,000 Ninja Cross obstacle course to the pool. This new amenity will be funded from the $10 million grant. Coun. Terri McConnachie and Coun. Garth Frizzell voted against the addition, saying it was too early in the process to make such decision.

The balance of the grant, $9.5 million, will offset the loan that the city will need to complete construction. During a referendum in 2017, residents approved a $35 million loan to construct the replacement for the Four Seasons Pool; this loan will now be $25.5 million.

Council also heard Monday that construction is approximately 25 per cent complete, on time, and on budget.


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