Pooling our Thoughts: Decision Time in Our Little Town of Summerland

The New Pool referendum draws nigh, and the conversations continue. New pool, old pool. Fix ‘er up, or, don’t throw new money after bad. The seesaw continues—in locker rooms, at coffee shops, on social media, and around the dinner table. Summerland residents will decide the fate of a new recreation facility in a referendum on borrowing to be held November 4, 2023.

Full disclosure, I support the project going forward and will, with a slight wince, vote to approve the necessary funding required. I am a weekly user of the pool as a Recope client. We have been encouraged to vote our conscience, though it is strongly suggested that we require a new facility in order for Recope to continue. Recent conversation in the post-class hot tub indicates strong support for the project.

I totally understand the concerns of some about the cost effect on residents, property owners, and businesses. The plan to divide the cost burden between property tax increases and a level parcel tax is likely intended to soften the blow for lower income households. There is however serious money on the table here.

I am also aware of other places in our little town where not enough money was spent, or is being spent, in order for facilities and infrastructure to function—need I mention, again, roads. As the Fram Oil Filter man used to say, “You can pay me now, or pay me later.” Pools will be no cheaper in ten  years’ time. You, that is we, decide.

Writing in the writes in the Sicamous Eagle Valley News John Arendt opines that the project will have “long-lasting effects.” I totally agree, but for totally different reasons. He raises concerns mostly around the long term effects of borrowing. He says nothing of the positive health and wellness benefits, the community building potential, or the advantages of an inspiring, energy efficient, well integrated, and strategically-placed facility that will benefit residents, tourists, and visitors of all ages, until such time as this new facility will reach its own fifty-year best-before date.

For those unfamiliar with the proposal, the new recreation centre will include a 6-lane, 25m lap pool, a leisure pool, hot tub and universal change rooms, a fitness centre, a multi-purpose fitness/activity classroom, a youth/family multi-purpose program room, and access to a gymnasium.

Information on the website notes that by building a new facility adjacent to the arena, the District can realize cost and operational savings and increased energy efficiencies by taking advantage of heat recapture technology; harvesting heat surplus from the arena to assist in heating the Recreation Centre.

The present situation with the 1976 facility is less appealing: All major building mechanical, electrical and pool systems within the Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre have exceeded their expected usable life. Most of the building envelope is in poor condition with significant air and water leakage and potential for mold. The facility is consuming approximately 86% more energy per unit of floor area than the average swimming pool . . . The facility is experiencing ongoing issues which include termites that compromise the structure of the building, ant and rodent infestations, leaking roof that requires major repair, hot tub failures, instability of main pool structure, and an inability to source facility replacement parts due to antiquated electrical, plumbing and pool systems.

As with most public projects, voters must grapple with a cost/benefit analysis, and then follow our gut. The costs of this project are significant, but the benefits are huge. We either agree with the project as proposed, or kick it down the road to our children and to the next generation. No pool facility lasts forever. Look only to Penticton as one example. Someone, sometime, will need to build a replacement. So why not now? And why not by us?