Hub Staff

Town staff have council’s approval to seek out potential partnerships for a new pool and related amenities in Saugeen Shores. Four pool options presented to councillors range from $21.4 million to $14.4 million if potential partners choose the preferred site of the Plex’s east side expansion in Port Elgin.

The special Committee of Whole November 13 saw chairs spill out into the hallway of Council Chambers with many interested parties in attendance including Aquafit members who, prior to the meeting, had filled Mayor Mike Smith’s mailbox with postcards addressing the need for a new pool in Saugeen Shores and were also hoping for a walking track to be included in the design.

Les Camm a senior Project Manager with Colliers International listed four potential sites for a new pool, all of which were in Port Elgin. The four sites included Cameron Park off Mill Creek Road behind Saugeen District Secondary School. Camm said that that location would be a tight fit for parking, that retaining walls would be needed due to the slope of the site, limited to future expansion, and zoning changes would be required.

The next site dubbed the “Fenton site” is on undeveloped greenfield land on the corner of Bruce Street and Sunset Boulevard, near the YMCA. Camm stated the Fenton location would have the highest development costs, would need to be rezoned, however it’s a low-profile location as it’s close to the YMCA, and elementary schools for possible programming.

There were two sites at the Plex up for deliberation with an east side development location pushing past the other contenders according to Camm’s report. Building a pool on the Plex’s west side would eliminate parking, and require the move of power lines quoted by Westario Power at $200,000. The preferred east side location, referred to as Plex B, includes lower operating and maintenance costs, lowest development cost, room for expansion, high profile synergies for programming, re-use of waste heat, and it’s situated close to the rail trail.

The report from Colliers International stated that the Plex B site will connect the pool to the existing arena, and “opens the opportunity to make use of rejected heat from the arena refrigeration plant to pre-warm fresh water and fresh air as well as to warm floors in change rooms and spectator areas.” The report added that this will help reduce utility costs and that the technology is already being used to supplement heating in the Town offices.

The report brought up efficient scheduling and deployment of staff and customer service personnel, keeping staffing costs down. “The central location at the hub of the Town also raises the profile of the new pool for residents as well as tourists,” read the report, which then alluded to additional visits increasing revenue. “This higher profile location would also assist with the attraction of a partner for costs associated with the capital construction, programming, operations, and maintenance of the pool.” The report stated that private and public partnerships are a trend in smaller municipalities.

“Private firms rely on strict budgets, programming targets and business operating plans for success. They bring value and expertise to the creation and operation of municipal recreation facilities and provide a risk sharing partner,” advised Camm’s report.

Design options were then presented by Architect Jay Lim of Perkins Will with option one, the one with the highest price tag of $21.4 million, including both a therapeutic pool with warmer water, and a six lane competition tank with a ramp; a large slide with a splash down tank, bleachers, and a second floor walking track among other amenities. The second option would cost $19.3 million and would eliminate the second floor walking track, and the slide and splash down tank would be reduced. The third option at $18.6 million would take space from the pool deck and shell the second floor for potential amenities that would remain undeveloped initially to save costs. The lowest cost option came in at $14.4 million featured a six lane competition tank as well as fewer change rooms and programming options.

Town of Saugeen Shores Aquatic Supervisor Shanna Reid then spoke, saying it was her pleasure to present a business case for the $21.4 million option. Reid said it was “all of the things we want” based on community input and that since 2007 the use of the Centennial Pool has increased 84 percent with 2016 seeing 42,240 users, putting the current pool, which is now 40 years old, at maximum capacity.

Projected revenue for option one, Reid put at $420,000 a year, saying it was her “best guess” using “conservative numbers”.

“With increases in revenue you also get an increase in expenses, the projected number would be an additional $298,000 to the tax levy,” said Reid, who later introduced new staffing options which, put together with existing pool staff, would come to $294,000 a year.

The projected annual budget for option one would cost the tax levy $510,000 compared to the current tax levy of $234,900. Reid said the Town would investigate partnership opportunities as well as federal and provincial grants including the Canada Build Fund, which could alleviate financial pressures by over 60 percent Build Fund.

Following the presentation Councillor Don Matheson requested Jay Lim take a look at non-traditional building structures, specifically mentioning the indoor pool design in Collingwood.

Councillor Neil Menage said “this journey is something else” referring to the years of talk and reports about the subject. “We’ve been working on this for the better part of our whole term so if the information doesn't come back before about June 2018 then we really have no say in it anymore, it’ll be referred to the next council,” he said, adding after the meeting, “Don’t let it delay beyond the point of no return for this council.”

Councillor Mike Myatt said he personally would not like to see another report regarding a new pool in Saugeen Shores, which drew laughs from the crowd. “I think this community deserves the best. Our tax base is growing, our assessment is growing... it’s time to make a decision and I think if dollars fell from the sky and we get seven (million) from the province, and seven (million) from the feds, I’d like to think that we could raise seven million dollars in fundraising,” said Myatt.

“We have to have supporting funding from somewhere else,” stressed Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau, stating not having two thirds of the cost funded from elsewhere would be “financially disastrous” for the municipality.

Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith received many postcards from current pool users asking for a new pool.

Saugeen Shores Aquatic Supervisor Shanna Reid addressing Saugeen Shores Council November 13.

Two possible sites at the Plex were presented to Council November 13, one on the east side of the current facilities and the other on the west side, with the west side being the preferred location.

Option 1 concept as presented by Perkins and Will Canada to Saugeen Shores Council November 13.