On Monday night at city hall, the members of Timmins city council will vote whether or not to move ahead with the much debated aquatic centre project.
"We're voting to build a pool, whether we get funding or not," Councillor Rick Dubeau told TimminsToday on Sunday.
The item, as it stands, simply says 'Aquatic Centre' on the agenda.
On Saturday, Mayor Steve Black posted a message on his mayoral Facebook page which spells out the resolution in its entirety. It states that 'council supports proceeding with 'a tender for construction following the detailed design process and selection of final facility components in 2017'.
"Hoping to receive support for this resolution on Monday at council to show our community partners and government funding agencies that council is committed to moving the aquatic center forward to construction if the funding is present," posted Black.
There has been an application to receive NOHFC funding, which Dubeau said was surprising.
"It was stated right in the bylaw that we voted on that night, that the pool wouldn't be built until such time that we had raised $8 million dollars in funding, and also that provincial and federal funding must be in place. Now all of a sudden, a month later we're having a vote," said Dubeau.
At last Wednesday's city budget meeting, discussion ratcheted up its intensity over $1 million dollars included in a draft version of the city's budget for 2017. The amount was earmarked as a 'contribution towards reserve' for the aquatic centre project. It was included on the page for Councillor's requests.
Dubeau asked the city's Director of Community and Development Services Mark Jensen, who presented the draft, about where the item was placed. Jensen told Dubeau that it was city treasurer Jim Howie's idea. Dubeau later asked Mayor Black who exactly put the $1 million dollars in the budget.
"I don't make our budget," said Black. "Council has voted approximately nine times now, seven to two yes, in the big collusion world of your world, seven to two on an aquatic centre."
The Mayor also said that staff prepares a budget they feel 'meets the direction and needs of the municipality', and that there is still opportunity to remove the item. Nearly retired CAO Joe Torlone eventually claimed the heat for the $1 million dollar budget inclusion.
"I saw it in the capital budget, and that's why I waited for the budget meeting to ask. It was never mentioned at council, never passed at council. It was just silently slid into the budget" said Dubeau on Sunday.
Detailed designs for the new aquatic centre will cost a yet determined amount of money. Last year council approved $750,000 dollars which was placed in a reserve. The increased 'ask' of council this year has irked the Ward 4 Councillor.
"Its been put into the budget. Now I have to bring a motion forward to take it out," said Dubeau, who added that it will equate to a 1.4 per cent tax increase on its own.
Mayor Steve Black aims to secure funding from upper levels of government for a new aquatic centre. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday The motion that will be voted on Monday aims to show higher levels of government that the city is committed to the project, which Black feels drastically increases the likelihood of Timmins securing money.
Responding to a Facebook comment from a local citizen, Black charged that it was 'hard to fundraise and get government funding when two councillors say it isn't happening and council has never supported construction so this will show partners we plan on going ahead if funding comes in and if not council will need to re-evaluate the project. It won't come in if they don't think council is prepared to go ahead.'
On Sunday, Dubeau said he is not against the concept of the facility as a whole.
"This council voted unanimously, two years ago, to go ahead and put it on paper and become shovel ready, should the provincial and federal monies come into play. I still support that. But now, we're going ahead with no funding whatsoever, which could put the city on the hook for $40 million."
The new aquatic centre would be built at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex on Theriault Boulevard. It would replace the undersized, eroding, and out of code swimming pool that currently sits at the site.
If the project moves ahead, council will then vote on various components, enhancements, and amenities of the facility.
Total cost estimates for the project have ranged between $33 million and $40 million.
Monday's meeting begins at 6 p.m.
