KENILWORTH – Council will be going for a chilly dip into winter budget talks to determine how money will be poured from the 2024 budget into a proposed outdoor pool.
Tillmann Ruth Robinson Inc., the architectural firm hired by the township to design a new Mount Forest pool to replace the defunct Lion Roy Grant pool, recently provided updated costing based on designs with modern building codes and accessibility standards.
The cost has increased to an estimated $5.5 million from a $5.3 million estimate provided to council in January.
Where the additional $200,000 is going to come from isn’t yet known, and may not be for some time.
As the Advertiser previously reported, council had agreed to spend $2.8 million in taxpayers’ dollars on the pool, to the tune of $350,000 each year for the next eight years, with the remaining $2.5 million tasked to a fundraising committee.
Councillor Steve McCabe asked during an Oct. 10 meeting how the township will cover the increase.
“Well, that’s,” Mayor Andy Lennox began to say.
“What we’re here for?” McCabe said, finishing the mayor’s sentence.
“One of the reasons, yes,” Lennox said.
“The proposal is that council would review the revised cost once [the] fundraising committee reached certain targets,” senior project manager Tammy Stevenson told council.
“At that point, there would be further discussions on how it would be funded.”
An update to the project workplan, to which council gave a partial nod in January, lays out several future decisions for council that are contingent on funding milestones.
After council determines what taxpayers will contribute in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, and the fundraising committee raises $2 million, council could direct the architect to complete an updated design package for tendering, and make a decision on whether to increase funding.
Once the committee hits its $2.5-million goal, council can provide staff with direction around final financial contributions, tendering, construction, and opening the pool.
Councillor Sherry Burke, who chairs a pool advisory committee and is the fundraising director, wants council “in good faith” to set money aside for more cost increases.
“By the time we get to actual build, it’s (the cost) going to go up again,” Burke said.
“I would like us to have discussions during not only this budget, but the 2025 budget, to set aside dedicated funds for the pool project, for the overrun costs.”
“I’m looking forward to that conversation,” McCabe remarked.
Council approved, in principle, the update to the township’s evolving workplan, including funding milestones that would prompt council direction on how to move forward with the project.
That means the workplan is proceeding in a direction council is content with for now, but it’s worth noting that until a contract is awarded and signed with a contractor, a final decision on the pool is uncertain.
A report to council from the township’s senior project manager notes inflation, competing priorities, higher taxes and a reduction in collected development charges are all pressures on infrastructure costs.
“In rural townships these challenges are magnified,” Stevenson wrote.
As staff look for certainty on funding, it could be a while before the project reaches a point when contractors can bid on the job.
“Significant risk remains related to the cost increase of this project,” Stevenson wrote.
“Cost estimates will need to be updated and reviewed as this project is delayed over multiple years prior to fundraising reaching 100% of its goal and council committing the remainder contribution.”
Costs also haven’t been considered related to pool accessories, equipment, first aid and rescue equipment, a security system, chemicals and staffing, Stevenson noted.
10-10-2023 Council Agenda – revised attachment A to Report OPS 2023-034_compressed