OLDS — A shutdown of the Olds Aquatic Centre will likely last longer than anticipated as it undergoes a nearly $2.8 million retrofit, community services director Doug Wagstaff says.
Wagstaff made that comment during a presentation to council’s April policies and priorities meeting.
In recent weeks, staff still didn’t yet know the precise dates for that closure, according to chief administrative officer Brent Williams.
“The contractor has however indicated to us that it may need to be two to four weeks’ longer closure than we initially anticipated,” Wagstaff said.
"The timing will be sorted out once we have a contractor in place, and then we'll be able to let our public know what the exact timing for the closure will be.”
Given that the shutdown will likely last longer than planned, coun. Wanda Blatz asked what the town plans to do to compensate pool users – especially pass-holders.
She wondered if, for example, they might be given “some type of a reciprocal pass to go to another community pool such as in Sundre or Didsbury or Innisfail.”
“We had not explored any reciprocal,” Wagstaff said. “I mean, we can look into that, but my first reaction would be that might be a little complicated on the financial side.”
However, he said once the precise dates of the shut-down are known, each passholder will be sent a letter indicating that their pass will be extended in a sense.
“So for example, if it was going to expire in September and they’ve missed a month, it’ll start up and that span of time will be added to their account,” he said.
“That to me is an adequate process, thank you,” Blatz said.
Wagstaff noted that costs for the pool renovation project are being covered by a $2.2 million federal Inclusive Communities Building Grant cost-shared on an 80/20 basis.
The remaining $533,691 is expected to come from a provincial government Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant.
Wagstaff noted work to be undertaken includes boiler replacement and some retiling. A new sign will be erected too.
Some progress has already been made on other improvements to the facility.
For example, a hot tub lift has been replaced.
Also, the wibit inflatable water product approved in the budget this year has been ordered and is anticipated to arrive in June.
“We hope to have some events around that to kick it off and promote the fact that it is now an additional piece that can be added to your rentals in the pool as well as the special events that the pool hosts themselves,” Wagstaff said.
