City council will discuss whether to endorse a fundraising committee’s approach to revamping the Flin Flon Aqua Centre.
Tricia Tetlock, chairwoman of the Aqua Centre Community Committee, appeared before council on Tuesday.
With the committee having reviewed six options for upgrading the Aqua Centre, Tetlock sought council’s approval to proceed with Option 4.
Option 4 would cost $6.97 million and include, among other things, an expanded and improved pool deck at the existing facility.
Tetlock said her committee needs the go-ahead to pursue Option 4 since a cost amount and other detailed information is required in order to apply for grants.
Coun. Bill Hanson said he thought Option 4 was also the consensus choice among mayor and council.
“The sooner, the better” for an answer, Tetlock told council, with Coun. Colleen McKee suggesting efforts be made to ensure a decision is ready by the next council meeting on Feb. 16.
Tetlock said fundraising is the committee’s top priority, adding that the project is promoted as a regional venture because involvement from all area communities is sought.
McKee commended Tetlock and her committee on this “big endeavour,” saying the Aqua Centre is one of the busiest buildings in the community.
Coun. Karen MacKinnon, sitting as mayor in Cal Huntley’s absence, encouraged Tetlock to contact council if she needs further assistance.
Due to the structure of the fundraising committee, council must okay whichever option is pursued. This does not commit council to funding any of the proposed work.
No final tab
Council confirmed there is still no final tab for the City of Flin Flon Water Treatment Plant, which opened in August 2013.
The most recent estimate for the plant was $15.2 million, but council’s latest budget included a $1 million contingency amount for the project that may or may not be spent.
“When you have a project this big, at the end of the project, generally the general contractor will say, ‘Okay, you owe us this much’ and the vendor will go, ‘Well, no, we only owe you half that amount,’” Hanson said. “So then you get to the final days where you are, you know, ‘Okay, what are you charging us for here?’ And so basically that’s where we’re at. So we don’t have a fixed cost on that yet.”
Hanson said the city is dealing with the engineering firm hired for the project, which in turn deals with the contractor.
In late 2013, Hanson said that at that time the plant was “well within 10 per cent” of its budget – and “that’s huge.”
Contributions
Council allocated funds to support the Flin Flon Bombers’ recent Hockey Night in the North game and an upcoming visit by a prominent aboriginal leader.
The first vote saw council spend $500 to co-sponsor Hockey Night in the North along with the Town of Creighton, Northern Village of Denare Beach and Hudbay.
The game, played last Friday, Jan. 29, saw sponsors cover the admission for everyone passing through the doors. Attendance was 1,749, up over last year’s free-admission game.
Council also voted to spend up to $300 on a presentation Chief Clarence Louie will deliver to community leaders and Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce members next week.
Louie, chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band in BC, emphasizes economic development as a means to improve aboriginal people’s standard of living.
McKee, who made the motion, called Louie “a genius when it comes to economic development initiatives.”
Reports
Council reviewed January’s fire and animal control reports.
The Flin Flon Fire Dept. had a quiet month with two incidents: a false alarm and a call to assist the ambulance crew, both on Prince Charles Place.
On Jan. 4 at 12:07 pm, an on-call officer and eight firefighters responded to alarms that had activated inside a home. Upon arrival, they determined the alarm was false.
Then on Jan. 9, at 11:33 am, the ambulance crew required help with a deceased individual. The on-call officer and five firefighters responded.
As for animal control, January saw one animal, a dog, captured and turned over to the SPCA or a new owner.
The animal control officer received 19 calls during the month: 18 from residences and one from Canada Post.
