WELLINGTON NORTH – A decision has been reached on how the township will make it up to Mount Forest residents who are without a local pool this summer.
On June 17, council decided against funding significant repairs required for the Lion Roy Grant pool to open this season, effectively securing the fate of the 1950s outdoor pool as a bygone pastime.
At the meeting, councillors also mulled over offering transportation, and covering the cost, to get residents and youth to the township’s remaining outdoor pool in Arthur, but no concrete decisions were made at the time.
On June 27, council endorsed a staff recommendation to reimburse pool users living within a specific area with $24 for each visit to the Arthur pool (488 Eliza Street), up to a maximum of $500 per household, or around 20 total visits.
The amount of $24 is based on how the township reimburses its staff for mileage, and assumes the typical Mount Forest swimmer will travel 48km round-trip, working out to 50 cents per kilometre.
Already approved operating dollars – around $77,290 on average per year – that would have gone toward operating the Lion Roy Grant will be used to fund the rebates, leaving enough in the bank to compensate about 140 individuals with rebates for over 10 trips each.
A “loyalty-style rewards card” will be issued to swimmers at the Arthur pool and later submitted to the township, which will process the card and cut a cheque.
“This option has the benefit of allowing staff time to confirm the user’s address in an office setting … as well as limits the administrative work associated with the payment,” states a report from operations director and interim CAO Matthew Aston.
Only those residing north of Sideroad 5 and Line 10 – mimicking northern Ward 1 and 2 boundaries thought to be the Lion Roy Grant’s catchment area – are eligible for a rebate.
The blue, shaded area north of Sideroad 5 and Line 10, mimicking northern Ward 1 and 2 boundaries, shows what is thought to be the Lion Roy Grant’s catchment area. Only those residing in the area and visiting the township’s outdoor pool in Arthur are eligible for a rebate. (Wellington North agenda image)
Transportation options with Guelph Owen Sound Transportation, Ride Well, and Cook Bus Lines were considered, but regardless of what option was to be selected, each had “risk associated,” Aston’s report stated.
The decision to forgo providing and paying for transportation was largely based on risk and the fear of what could happen should something go wrong.
At the June 17 and 27 meetings, councillors discussed a gamut of ways their well-intentioned plan could go sideways and implicate the township.
What if a child became sick, or rode a bus to the Arthur pool and never came back home? Or what if instead of taking a dip in the pool, a youth went to their friend’s place instead?
Aston also noted in his report that transportation has a fixed cost regardless of how many people choose to use it.
Cost estimates for providing transportation ranged between $13,500 and $64,800, depending on the amount of users per day over 54 summer days.
There’s also the chance residents will make the trip only to find the Arthur pool at capacity, considering lifeguard staffing challenges limiting bather-to-lifeguard ratios.
“It is anticipated the capacity limit for public and family swims at [the Arthur Swimming Pool] will be limited to 30 on the deck and in the pool,” Aston stated in his report.
The entrance to the outdoor pool in Arthur located at 488 Eliza Street. Advertiser file photo
Councillor Sherry Burke expressed disappointment with the recommendation and asked Aston if those, such as service clubs, funding public swims were asked to reimburse the cost of transportation, and further suggested swimmers could be asked to chip in for swims, creating revenue and making transportation options more cost effective.
Burke did not address the previously discussed concerns about how things could go wrong with the transportation plan.
Aston said staff had not approached public swim donors, and said the township would “end up assuming [an] unreasonable amount of risk” in having to look after transporting residents back and forth to Arthur.
Mayor Andy Lennox said council was doing its best in the 11th hour and voiced support for the rebate option.
“We’re likely going to be dealing with this again next year, and perhaps we can have a little bit more time to think about how we go about this,” Lennox added.
No councillor voiced opposition or concern with the boundary limitation proposed.
Before a vote on the recommendation, Burke said she was only voting in favour because youth need to swim. She reiterated her belief that providing transportation was the best option.
Staff recommendations were carried, and swimmers are anticipated to begin receiving cards “by late next week” that will be initialled each visit, Aston said.
To view the 2022 Arthur pool schedule, visit: wellington-north.com or see the PDF below.
2022B Staff Schedule_Hours Aquatics