McKellar Ward’s Councillor feels the potential demolition of Dease Pool is a tough decision, but one Council is facing head on tonight.
Brian Hamilton tells us all the data and current research suggests there is no way the pool can be rebuilt. “There’s some tougher choices that are coming up in the next couple of budgets, and I think in the next couple of years people are going to be able to see what we’re up against.”
It appears a flood of phone calls about the pool have not reached him.
As news of potential demolition of the facility came to light, Brian Hamilton indicates he has only taken about ten phone calls on the topic in the last week. “Generally when people are calling city Councillors and reaching out, we’re able to kind of explain the situation more clearly. There’s been a bit of a misinformation campaign, it’s not like council is looking to close a pool and shut down a neighbourhood.” Hamilton adds there was some information recently distributed claiming roughly 3000 kids used the pool, when he says it was more like just over 200.
He’s also looking at the benefits of the move.
The McKellar Ward Councillor says the closure could help the city lifeguard shortage as people consider other nearby pools. “Last year with Dease pool closed and Churchill pool closed, was the very first year, in years, that we’ve been able to have staff at all of our aquatic venues.”
The city Councillor adds the options tonight include demolition costing $260,000, or rebuilding the pool with a price tag north of $2.5-million. The end vote will still need to be ratified in the final budget.
