MOUNT FOREST – Members of the Mount Forest Aquatics Advisory Committee agree a township fundraising strategy for a new outdoor pool at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex is the way to go.
At a June meeting, the committee discussed fundraising options, with township economic development officer Dale Small suggesting fundraising either be handled internally by the committee and a staff fundraising coordinator, or a hired professional firm.
The latest cost estimate from last fall, considered accurate within a 20 per cent margin, pegs the cost of a new pool at $5.3 million.
Talk of a new outdoor pool in the community to replace the defunct Lion Roy Grant pool has been ongoing since at least 2016, with a report at the time estimating full replacement cost between $1.5 and $2 million.
In March this year, council passed a budget requiring Wellington North taxpayers to contribute $2.8 million to the new pool over eight years, starting with a $350,000 contribution in 2023.
That leaves a $2.5-million question mark.
Small reached out to five firms, with two – BNP Goldie and Global Philanthropic – estimating hiring costs ranging between $250,000 and $325,000.
That’s not including ancillary costs throughout an 18-month, four-phase project term.
“Staff’s recommendation is to not engage a professional fundraiser and move forward with an internal fundraising approach,” minutes from the July meeting state.
What’s being proposed includes a two-phase fundraising approach over 18-months to try and close the multi-million-dollar gap.
The first phase will target corporate donors and community organizations, followed by public campaigning, soliciting donations from individuals and at fundraising events.
The township could also look at hiring a fundraising coordinator to keep a workplan on track and to assist the fundraising steering committee.
But Small explained in an email that his vision – “not approved by council or anyone else for that matter” – is for Tasha Grafos, the township’s community recreation coordinator, to take on the role.
“We wouldn’t actually hire a new position, but we would provide support from our co-op students, so the cost is negligible,” Small suggested.
Committee members were all generally supportive of an internal approach, but some expressed concern about limited volunteers.
If the internal approach doesn’t yield results, a professional approach could be reconsidered.
Meanwhile, committee members are deciding who will fill the roles of the steering committee, including a fundraising director, fundraising officers and a social media coordinator.
Small is also reaching out to Grant Match, a grant-writing organization that takes no up-front money but does take a commission if a grant application is successful.
Over the past two months, township senior project manager Tammy Stevenson has been working with the architectural firm Tillmann Ruth Robinson Inc. to get a detailed pool design that can be presented to council.
A refreshed costing estimate is expected to be available at the end of August, and Stevenson will provide a report to council in September detailing the new cost and the final design.
At the same September meeting, Small will also bring a report outlining a proposed fundraising strategy.
Ultimately, the decision on what to do falls to council, which will consider the committee’s wishes and staff reports with recommended courses of action.
Aquatics committee chair and councillor Sherry Burke declined to provide comment on the progress thus far and the task ahead of raising $2.5 million for the pool.
The committee next meets on Aug. 22.
