Sunday, June 10, 2012

Sam Ketchum Pool Public Discussion Process Update

This past Friday and Saturday - members of the Pool Task Force went out in force to engage the public on the 3 preliminary options to repair just the Sam Ketchum Pool or two different options to renovate the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.  As of this writing, there were plans to place the presentation online on both the City's and Cariboo Regional District website for the public's viewing/input

Option 1 has a price tag of $9.5 million (Pool Only) and Options 2 & 3 are differing options for expanded recreation opportunities (expanded gym, new multi-purpose room).  Option 2 would cost $12.5 million with Option 3 costing $13 million

From those I talk to - Options 2 and 3, although they would be a definite asset to the Central Cariboo region, are very likely off the table as residents' who pay the Central Cariboo Recreation tax would balk at the almost doubling of that tax (go from $88 per $100,000 to almost $200 per $100,000), if either Options 2 or 3 were fully implemented (and Options 2 and 3 don't include a indoor turf facility).  The most likely scenario at this point is a revision of Option 1 (Fix Sam Ketchum Pool only) with a cost of $1.5 to $3 million with that being possibly being entirely funded via capital budget or even short term debt

At Friday night's Pool public consultation meeting where CRD Area 'F' Director Joan Sorley, WL City Councillor Laurie Walters, Ross McCoubrey/Stephan Hoezler (Pool Task Force members), Darron Campbell (CRD Manager of Community Services), Deb Radolla (City of WL Manager of Active Living) and the PERC Consultants were in attendance - I suggested the following:

a) Pre-tax for whatever Option is proposed to the public so you lessen the debt burden of local taxpayers -- Mr. Campbell said that this could be considered as one option is firmed up and agreed upon by the politicians

b) Look into expanding the current Recreation Boundary to capture places (my opinion) like McLeese Lake and Miocene - Director Sorley agreed that it should be discussed and suggested that maybe even communities like Horsefly/Likely should pay, given Williams Lake is nearest place for a regulation-style swimming pool.  I don't see residents' of Likely/Horsefly and even Big Lake agreeing to this, given their previous opposition to the then-proposed Building Inspection function, however residents' of Miocene might agree to it, providing that they can see a link between tax paid and service received.  She is looking at options to present this idea at her next Town Hall meeting in early 2013 for consideration of residents' of Electoral Area 'F'. 

At this point - the public input received to date will shape the next steps of the Pool Task Force which will report out to the Central Cariboo Joint Committee no later than the end of this year

As for Williams Lake taxpayers - with the City's long term debt sitting at $16,643,420 with the majority of that debt consisting of the Tourism Discovery Center (2004 - $1,045,000), new Fire Hall (2008 - $6,300,000) and Mackenzie Avenue repaving (2010 - $3,500,000) and the possibility of more debt to put in water (and even sewer) for residents' of Woodland Drive - I imagine the appetite of taxpayers' to take on debt obligations of $20,000,000 (City/CRD combined long term debt) or more is very unlikely, hence the politicians (especially members of Williams Lake Council) should be very cautious about how big of a project to propose, given the state of the local economy including forestry and the expressed desire of Woodland Dr residents for water ASAP

SBF

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