Construction begins on pool
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
The ground has been broken and construction began last week on the expansion for the Aquatic Center.
The expansion will include a kiddie pool, water slide, hot tub and multi-purpose room that can be used for a viewing room or for parties.
“It’s going to be phenomenal and be good for the people,” said Mayor George Lattery.
He said the pool expansion is hugely needed in Strathmore. He said he has spoken to many people who’ve had to drive elsewhere to use pool facilities that aren’t available right now in Strathmore.
“Is it needed?,” said Lattery. “Desperately, I feel.”
The construction began soon after the Town of Strathmore awarded Lear Construction Ltd. with the tender of the pool.
The town opened the tender on Dec. 22.
Lattery said by putting it out to eight different tenders, it encourages companies to really provide a good service and price.
Lear Construction Ltd. had the lowest tender at just more than $2 million.
“We got the best of both worlds, we have one of the best companies to do this, but we also got the lowest tender,” said Lattery.
He said the expansion on the pool has been talked about for a long time. When Lattery was first elected as mayor, in 2007, it was estimated the pool would cost $4.2 million.
“We didn’t have the money,” he said.
Now, Lattery said because with the down turn of the economy the pool will cost a total of $2.35 million, with some of the money coming from grants.
Lattery said it might have seemed like the town was putting off the construction of the pool, but that they weren’t.
Lattery said it seems like common sense that once town council made the decision to build the pool it would just happen, but because the government has invested funding in the pool they have to follow their guidelines.
This included a number of public consultations and advertising.
“That slows the process down,” he said.
Lattery recognizes the construction will cause some inconveniences to the public, including the fence that has been set up already to close up the construction site.
He said the way the fence is set up has caused problems at the entrance to the Civic Centre and Strathmore High School.
“I don’t know how long the fence will be there, but if that’s the case, we should close off the west entrance [parking lot of the Civic Centre] because you have to drive all the way around the cars to find a parking spot,” said Lattery. “You may as well come in at the east end to start with.”
He said the pool schedule shouldn’t be affected by the construction because it is happening on the outside of the building.
“The pros far out weigh the cons,” said Lattery. “So it [construction] is going to last for 10 months, for the next 50 years you’re going to have everything you want.”
There will be something for everyone to enjoy at the pool from babies all the way up to seniors.
Lattery expects the pool to be completed by the end of the year.