One item on last Monday’s Grand Forks city council agenda involved the Aquatic Centre. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary requires Council’s consent to continue the Aquatic Centre Pool Deck Rehabilitation Project. It includes a 25% increase to the maximum requisition amount, from $625,000 to $781,250. The cost covers maintenance and operational fees, as well as the pool project and planning for the future. The RDKB is entitled to raise the requisition amount every 5 years. The estimated, approximately $540,000 project was established in 2014 but has since seen a series of setbacks.
Manager of Facilities and Recreation Tom Sprado explains. “This project has ballooned some-what, we initially thought we could do it for $150,000, we applied for a grant, we received a grant, we had to give the grant back because the project ended up being closer to $500,000 to $600,000.”
Mayor Brian Taylor says the upgrades have long been needed. “You saw the increase in terms of taxation it would create, at the same time Interior Health is threatening them with the potential of further action because of the health concerns about the flooring, and that flooring issue I can tell you has gone back 7 or 8 years at least.”
Council supported the request that evening, although it still has to through The Province and then back to the RDKB board.