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.