Fitness centre expansion dead in the water
By Erin Perkins
A proposed $1.5 million expansion to the Grand Forks Aquatic Center fitness facilites sunk after the Nov. 19 referendum.
The decison to expand the existing 600 square foot fitness facilty to 3,000 square feet lost by 76 votes – 969 'yes' votes and 1,045 'no' votes.
John Mackey, director of recreation facilities for Grand Forks and District Recreation, was pleased to see 2,000 people voted on the referendum but was disappointed in the result.
“Close doesn't count,” he said of the 76 vote gap. “The referendum tells us that the public doesn't want (the new fitness facility) at this time. The project is a no go and we have no other funding options right now... I'm disappointed for the department and staff who have worked on this for so long. We could see such great things for the community coming from this project.”
Mackey believes several factors affected the vote including the current economic conditions and the two other referendum questions on the table – the much needed emergency water system and infrastructure repairs – which were both approved by voters.
Brian Johnson, owner of Flexus Body Systems in Grand Forks, was pleased with the referendum outcome. He was against the referendum from the beginning because, as a business and property owner, he felt it was too expensive for the community to be paying for right now. With other loans already outstanding on the pool roof repair and potentially increasing interest rates to come in the future, he felt the debt “could cripple” the commuity.
“It would do the community justice to know what they were voting for,” said Johnson of the financial debts.
But some locals are disappointed in the decision.
“The circuit class is great but it is so full that sometimes we were out the door,” said gym user Liz Martin who stopped attending the class because of the problem.
The expansion proposal was 11 years in the making, having initially been proposed to council in 2000 for $246,000. It was rejected then returned in 2010 with new drawings, an environmentally friendly design and a new price tag. In April of 2011 the recreation commission to the board of the Regional District of the Kootenay Boundary suggested the project proceed to a referendum in November.
The existing facility is packed full of fitness equipment and can only accomodate 8 to 10 people at a time, with some users being turned away at peak times due to the small capacity. The new fitness centre and studio would have held up to 100 people.
The project would have been funded by the taxpayers of the City of Grand Forks and Rural Area D at an increased cost ranging between $40 and $70 a year over the next 20 years depending on house value. A $250,000 home would have paid $42.82 said Mackey.
The recreation commission will discuss the referendum results at their regular meeting next week and decided where to go from here. But for now, it's “dead in the water” said Mackey.