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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-04-13, Page 3News Huron East questions lifespan of rec centre at Vanastra as pool repaired By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Ongoing repairs to the pool at the Vanastra Recreation Centre prompted a discussion at Huron East council last Tuesday about whether the facility should be "mothballed at some point." "It's old and it's never going to be right. It's like a submarine with a screen door. We should plan on having a new proper building in 10 years and not nickel and dime ourselves to death like this one is doing," said Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan. "Everything has a lifespan and we may be coming to the end of Vanastra pool's lifespan. Let's find out its lifespan and if we're coming to the end of it, do we still want to sink more money into it," said Grey Coun. Mark Beaven, As $40,000 in repairs are being done currently on the pool bottom by a London contractor, the Vanastra recreation board sought a price on fixing mechanical equipment and received a quote of $15,000. "The price was a fair bit higher than anticipated and there's no room in the budget to cover the cost so the board decided just to get the equipment up and running again to get operational. They will look at doing the job a part at a time," Clerk - Administrator Jack McLachlan told council. Tuckersmith Coun. Bill DeJong, who sits on the Vanastra recreation board, was cynical about the recent quote. "We were told that spending the money would give us a carefree system but in 2001 Tuckersmith paid $17,000 out of reserves to put in a new system that's never functioned properly. Sometimes you feel like you're banging your head against the wall," he said. The pool received a new filtration system in 2001 and McLachlan said the filters were faulty and replaced this week by the company that provided them since they were still under warranty. Ongoing mechanical problems involve the motors, which are 10 years old, and plumbing to the pool heaters, all of which was included in the $15,000 quote. Cheryl Heath photo Andy Drembelles and John AlexIou, of London, make repairs to the bottom of the pool at the Vanastra Rec Centre. The Vanastra pool has been closed for two weeks and was expected to reopen on Monday. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath pointed out that community pools are usually a cost to any municipality. "There isn't anywhere in Canada that a pool makes a nickel - Wingham, Goderich, Kincardine all have a lot of red ink because of the rules we have to follow," he said. Mayor Joe Seili and Grey Coun. Alvin McLellan agreed, pointing to the costs of running the Brussels pool, which Seili said loses $5,000 a month. "Recreation is such an important part of today's society though so it's an investment you have to make," said McLellan. The deputy -mayor, however, questioned if council should look at both whether a recreation centre is needed at all in Vanastra or whether or not a pool need be part of a new recreation facility in Vanastra. "We'd have to go to the Vanastra community with that question," said Seili. DeJong responded that the timing is wrong since a large amount of money was just spent on the pool. "We just spent $40,000 on the pool bottom. There's no use stopping on account of $15,000," he said. County could lose under new funding By Tim Cumming Goderich Signal -Star Editor Is Huron County a winner or loser in the new Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund? Treasurer David Carey told Huron County Council at the Thursday, April 7 meeting that, despite sizeable one- time funding from the province, the county could lose money over the next three years as the Ontario government replaces the Community Reinvestment Fund. The province is touting a new municipal partnership fund as "fair, equitable and transparent." Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell said the change is "good news" for Huron - Bruce. The province is promising $38 million more funding to municipalities this year, an increase of 6.1 per cent. Huron County's treasurer, however, said the change in program funding may look good in the short term but could cost the county in the LAWN QUESTIONS? Organic Programs 4110Available cCIEDInD 524-2424 -Trust the Professionals long term. Carey said there are grant programs for which Huron County does not qualify because its assessment is too high. Huron County will receive substantial one-time funding from the province which, he said, "at first glance ... sounds great." However, over four years the county's total partnership funding of more than $2.4 million could be phased out or reduced, potentially leaving the county with significant lost revenue which could result in even higher taxes. Large urban municipalities with public transit systems are getting millions of dollars in increased funding from a gas tax. Coun. David Urlin (South Huron) said the provincial changes were "on the back of rural Ontario again." There is continuing discussion about how much the county will lose under the new scenario despite gains at the lower -tier municipal level. H. 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