Last Friday June 4th I attended a presentation put on by our Grade six students, (who did a great job) they were spilt up in to small groups 3-4 kids and each group tackled a different subject. One of the groups was looking at an Indoor Swimming pool.
Great idea and I agree it would be an great addition to our community, and probably would attract some young families here.
I tried to find information on what it would cost to provide a decent facility, the best way to do this is to find a community that's going through it now.
Below is a link to the "Kicking Horse Lifestyle Centre" proposed for the Town of Golden BC, Mountain Community like ourselves, population 4000 immediate rural area takes it to 7200, their proposed facility is an Aquatic Centre with a surf park, six lane swimming pool, Theatre/multi purpose meeting rooms, Health and Wellness centre, and a Food and Beverage area.
The cost of there facility is $11,857,000 they have assumed that it is going to pay to operate itself in the first year (Based on 101,000 users per year) and make a small profit by the fifth year of operation. They have also assumed that they will not receive any grants for the facility.
Payments on $12,000,000 over twenty five years at 4% interest would cost $760,085 per year.
Using a couple of different assumptions we will provide some costs to do the same in the Pass.
We in the Crowsnest Pass will collect $6.6 million in residential taxes this year, $760,085 would represent an 11.5 % tax increase our taxes average roughly $2000 per year so that would cost the average taxpayer $230 per year.
Assume that half that cost is covered by grants and we only have to finance $6,000,000 then the cost per tax payer would be $115 per year.
Now the operational side, their projections count on the facility receiving 101,000 users per year or 277 people every day of the year. Is that realistic?
Last year the Town of Pincher subsidized their pool by approximately $350,000 the taxpayers subsidize our present pool to the tune of $150,000 per year so the additional cost would be $200,000 per year or the equivalent of another 3% increase per year or $60 on the average tax bill.
Now recognizing that we are only comparing to the proposal below because it gives us a baseline to work with, we could do something bigger, smaller whatever the taxpayers would like to see.
The question becomes would our taxpayers be prepared to pay the additional costs, keep in mind that half our taxpayers are 55 or older and either on fixed incomes or soon to be.
I look forward to comments.
Approximate costs per taxpayers
Facility fully financed ($12,000,000) $230 per year plus $60 per year to operate equals $290 per year.
Facility half financed ($6,000,000) $115 per year plus $60 per year to operate equals $175 per year.
http://goldenbritishcolumbia.com/pdf/Feasibility%20Study%20for%20Kicking%20Horse%20Lifestyle%20Centre.pdf
15 comments:
what happened to the indoor pool that bridgecreek was promising?
I would be more than willing to pay an extra 300.00/year in tax.I would save money.Sparwood is about 40 km away, 80km return.At a low estimate of .50/km each trip costs me 40.00.So on the 8th trip to Sparwood I will have spent 320.00.So if you travel once per momth to Sparwood or Pincher just for swimming you would be better off paying the higher taxes.
The kicking horse rec center is 24220 sq.ft, which works out to 495.00 per sq.ft. to build.How come you can build a very high end home for 250.00/sq.ft. and a rec center is double that?It use to be that to build anything was half the cost for material and half for labour.I can not imagine 6 million in material for a project like this.And 6 million in labour works out to 57 full time workers for a full year at 50.00/hr.My point is why is that all levels of government get gouged.I think if you had a top notch project manager overlooking the project and the bids might be a whole lot cheaper than tendering out the whole project.
You also mention fixed income seniors.I agree there are some who will find it difficult to have a tax increse.But I think most seniors are quite well off, I believe they are the richest age group in this country.
These are just thoughts to open up debate.I am in favour of a rec center even at your highest estimate.
This is interesting, however we have a collection of aging and derelict facilities in our community. What about some consolidation and rationalization so that we have something worthwhile in our community? The Centre is toast now. There is a desire from the Recreation Department to get some society to Run Albert Stella now? There is talk of accessing some infrastructure grants for Albert Stella? How about a vision? What Does it cost to run all of the things we have now? I would approach the problem that with some vision we could retire some of the decrepit facilities, sell them and put the operating expenses into something for the community. Since I moved here about the only the only thing that has happened is stuff gets shut down, taxes go up and people leave. From you other post, I don't think you can hang this one on the shift patters at the mines. How about one thing that many feel is lacking in our community/council? VISION!
As I mentioned in my pool post under another thread, we can't afford not to build a rec centre. Think of the health savings for the province when people have a great place to go to swim, aquacise, walk (it has to have a track), and a room for exercise classes.
As for the person (in a different thread) who made the comment about having 2 pools a half hour from each other, I for one don't drive to either Sparwood or Pincher to swim, but would swim here in town. And really, who wants to make that drive in the winter. One way is snowy, the other windy! LOL
Let's seriously think about a new rec centre. It'll attract people. It'll make those of us here better off.
Get the province and the feds on board. They build these facilities for other cities and towns, why not us. We vote conservative for pete's sake! LOL
Good on the students who are promoting the idea.
Dean
I would love to see a swimming pool don't know if the taxpayers would be willing to pay for it.
Different question I was reading the various Corporate reviews available on the Municipal Site.
Came accross the following comments from the Review of May 17,2000.
"There is currently a perception of block voting by the Mayor and councillors, with many items receiving the same spilt vote."
Which Mayor was this, who were the councillors and what was the spilt?
None of these people would be sitting on the present council would they? I think I know the answer and the word hypocrit, is flowing through my mind.
Jerry
Dean,
Just to enlighten those who were not living here at the time, who was the Mayor of Crowsnest Pass in 2000 and which people were councillors?
Do we want Crowsnest Pass to fizzle out until nobody lives here?
An exciting recreation center is crucial in attracting new families and retaining the ones that are here.
Rather than looking at the costs and giving the option of "pay up" or nothing, how's about deciding a rec center is important then exploring options of how to make it happen.
In the end, the quality of the facility, management and programs would decide how financially and socially effective the center would be.
GPYE
Just in response, part of my post was a reaction to what folks have been asking me, part is driven by the fact that I believe this is something the Crowsnest Pass needs.
I agree we need to look for ways to make this happen, whether it be grants, corporate donations etc etc.
In a nut shell a recreation centre of this type is needed.
Whats scary to me is when you base a business plan on almost 300 users a day, 365 days a year.
I know one of the ladies that works at the pool in Sparwood and she tells me, that they very seldom reach that number.
The bottom line is indeed money, and the financial burden that the taxpayers will be left with.
Keep in mind I have never seen, or heard of a recreation facility that actually pays for itself.
With respect to our community getting a new community centre. I think the answer here is so obvious that it goes without saying. As someone stated earlier "we cannot afford NOT to have one".
I have been advocating for this for at least 10 years... and for an indoor swimming pool as well.
If I run again, and once elected, I would look at River Run/Bridgecreek with a fine toothcomb and would use the power of the Mayor’s office to make them shit or get off the pot, so to speak. If in arrears, or if because of their inability or unwillingness to move forward with their project I would look seriously at trying to take back this land and/or working cooperatively with the group that broke away from Bill Bradley. Over the last few months, I have been in contact with some of these people and as recently as last week had an email exchange with the head of this group in which I stated I look forward to working with them in the near future.
I believe a development incorporating a park, senior housing, affordable housing and low-income housing are ideally suited for this site. A community within a community, having a multi-faceted community centre is doable here, and desperately needed.
As it has been said, 'where there is a will, there is a way'. All it takes is getting like-minded people together having a vision, plan and leadership, and it will get done. Things this community has been lacking for far too long.
The provincial gov't should be all over helping pay for a rec centre w/pool...it's all over Cdn news tonight about the increase in cases of type 2 diabetes in the coming years. Let's make it easy for people to exercise. It'll cut health care costs, keep people healthy and working and most importantly paying taxes.
I voted that I would be willing to pay $200/yr in additional taxes in support of a new rec centre and pool. And I should point out, that it is very unlikely I would ever use the facility, since my recreation is focussed on the outdoors. However, I voted as I did, because as others have pointed out very clearly, it is something this community HAS to do.
Absolutely agree that we can not NOT afford to have a "YMCA" style recreation facility in the Crowsnest Pass. One that offers a pool, a gymnasium, a workout area, classes, perhaps even racquet ball. Go a step further. Add a banquet area and an area for birthday parties etc. Ways to bring in some extra income.
As someone said, it gets expensive to drive to SParwood and Pincher. And I for one refuse to swim in the outdoor pool here. This town has a population with an increasing waist line, decreasing motivation, and an increase in all sorts of bad habits. Not to mention our overall laziness and apathetic attitude. It makes me sad.
I happen to know a great location for this recreation facility. Blow up the Crowsnest Centre. That eye sore is already shut down. It needs to go. Go to some of the local big businesses and get some start up donations. Hell, we could even name the centre after them. Look at the Enmax Centre, or the Pengrowth Saddledome. As for the yearly costs, well, some will be handled through events, membership costs, and perhaps even grants and donations. But some maybe we will have to stomach as a community. But for something that betters us, isn't it worth it?
I for one would be happy with my tax money for once going to something I can be proud of when my family and friends come to visit. Something that actually benefits the overall well-being of the Pass. Not some useless old eye sore.
I am COMPLETELY in favour of an Indoor Rec. Center in our community. As a parent of younger children I would love to see this kind of facility here. As other people have mentioned I also travel to Sparwood (even during the winter) and I would much rather see the funds staying in the community.
I think it would attract younger people to this town and make the ones that are already here want to stay! With all the "small" businesses closing down I think the attraction would bring alot more people here, which would definately benefit everyone.
i am new to the area and already trying to work out how to leave as there is nothing that is convient to do everything is a drive ... i have to drive to fernie or sparwood for a decent pool, gym and exercise class's if this town had a year round centre i know we would think twice about moving, but the attitude seems very down here there seems to be a lot of talk and as everyone keeps telling me it never changes... is this true..... if so i am out of here....
Can your site handle heavy traffic? Because it seems to be on a major spam list somewhere…
Message to moderator - I'm not spamming, or promoting anything, I'm just testing the features of this forum.
There was a story about this in our newspaper. People come to steal other people's content from blogs and then publish on their own sites.
I'm not sure I agree with you on some key points. Do you allow guest blog posts? I'd love to write on this topic.
Every silver lining has a cloud.
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