COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS PROJECT: Worth the risk

City council has reinforced its unanimous support for Owen Sound’s $38-million recreation centre project, even though the city’s cost to build the complex could more than triple an original estimate.
The revised $16.6 million projected cost to the city would force Owen Sound to increase what it raises through property taxes by 3.4%, according to a report by city manager Jim Harrold. It would take 17 years, at that rate, starting in 2012, to pay off a debenture for the city’s contribution.

Family Y ups pressure

The Owen Sound Family Y has boosted its contribution to the city’s regional recreation centre project to $1.35 million, partly as a means to pressure city council to unanimously approve proceeding with the project at a meeting this afternoon.
“The support of all council members is vital if the Family Y and its fundraising committee are to be successful in reaching the community fundraising goal of $5 million,” Family Y board chairwoman Evelyn Dean said during a press conference today.
The Family Y had committed $1 million to the project. The non-profit organization plans to take out a $1.35-million loan and pay it back over 20 years with operational revenue.

Community rallies for rec centre

A public meeting to discuss Owen Sound’s 2010 budget turned into a rally to show support for the behind-schedule regional recreation centre project.
About 300 people crowded into a room at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Monday night for the meeting. Some carried shovels or signs with messages of support for the $38-million project.
“We’re just trying to let city council know that the recreation centre is something that needs to be brought to fruition,” said Owen Sound resident Donna Twining, who created pro-rec-centre placards taped to garden shovels.
The large show of support for the complex was due, in part, to comments made by Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners that the recreation centre will not likely be substantially completed by March 31, 2011, as required by the senior levels of government to ensure two-thirds funding. She told The Sun Times Friday that she would not support spending more than the $8.6 million in taxpayer money already committed by the city for the project.
Lovell Stanners told the crowd Monday night that the project is five to six months behind schedule, due to soil problems at Victoria Park.
The city has asked the provincial and federal governments to extend the deadline for “substantial completion.” Even though Infrastructure Canada and Ontario’s municipal affairs ministry told The Sun Times that no extensions will be granted, Lovell Stanners said the city is still hopeful it will happen. She said council expects an answer Wednesday.

Shovels at rec centre meeting?

I hear there is a campaign underway as we speak that is encouraging people to bring shovels with them to tonight’s budget public meeting at the Lumley-Bayshore to show support for Owen Sound’s rec centre project.

City hall sources say their e-mail has been “on fire” with letters of support for the facility.

The weekend activity is due to comments by Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners, printed in Saturday’s Sun Times, that she does not support spending more taxpayer money on the project.

The $38-million project is behind schedule and over budget. The Sun Times will be at tonight’s meeting.

Rec centre woes

It seems Owen Sound is not alone in its fear of missing the deadline for substantial completion of its recreation centre.

Municipalities like North Dumfries and Middlesex Centre are in the same boat.

The question now is: Will the feds and province extend the deadline for the build and still grant its $22 million in funding?