Oct. 22 is the date that has been chosen for the referendum on the new pool complex.
At their July 12 meeting, District of Port Hardy council approved a loan authorization bylaw which would allow them to borrow up to $6 million for the new multiplex. “We have to ask (ratepayers) for the authorization to borrow,” said Mayor Hank Bood.
“We spend a lot more time talking about thousands than we do for $6 million,” commented Councillor Fred Robertson.
“We need to put this forward in order to apply for grants,” said Deputy Mayor Pat Corbett-Labatt. “The referendum is the actual thing that makes it real,” said Bood.
The maximum term of the debt repayment is 30 years. The plan includes a $12 million budget with $10.5 going to construction costs.
The new complex will be about 15,000 square feet, compared to the existing pool that is about 12,000.
The early plans for inside, at this point, include a four-lane lap pool, leisure pool with a lazy river; and family, male and female change rooms.
HDR/CEI Architects will be back in October (tentatively Oct. 6) to present a more detailed proposal at a public open house.