(Submitted Photo/City of Prince Albert)

By Rob Mahon

The Cost of Recreation

Executive Committee to meet tonight as costs of new recreation facility rise

Jun 8, 2022 | 12:00 PM

It’s nearly time for the City of Prince Albert to break ground on a new recreation facility, complete with hockey rinks and swimming pools.

Before they’ve even started, however, inflation is leaving a mark on the project as it has on so many other things in recent months.

According to a release from the city, the bid prices are in and the lowest of them is 35 per cent higher than the pre-tender estimate for the facility. Citing inflation, the city has said the new projected cost is $113.8 million.

“There is no question we remain committed to getting this recreation centre built and building it with the features that meet the needs of our community,” said Mayor Greg Dionne. “We need to move ahead with this project. It took us years to secure this kind of funding. If we delay now, we will lose the opportunity and it will never be built.”

Tonight, city council will hold a Special Executive Committee meeting to consider two reports from the Aquatic and Arenas Steering Committee. The reports recommend awarding the construction tender and a revised funding plan to cover the additional expenses.

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“The funding plan for this project meets the needs of our community without tax increases during this time of high inflation,” said Dionne. “This project is overdue. Our existing facilities are over 45 and 55 years old.”

The city has said the new plan will still not see any increases in property taxes to pay for the facility. They also said in a release this would not change any plans for the facility, which will include an eight-lane 25-meter competitive pool, 200 spectator seats, combined leisure, splash and wave pool, lazy river, two water slides, and whirlpool. It will also feature two NHL size 200ft x 85ft rinks, seating for 366 in one rink and 608 in the other rink, player dressing rooms totaling 6,720 square feet and referee dressing rooms totaling 800 square feet.

“This is our new reality,” said Wes Hicks, director of Public Works for the City of Prince Albert. “Construction costs are not going to go down and these are inflationary pressures out of our control.”

In order to build the facility without raising property taxes, the city will have to borrow $30 million more, bringing the total amount of borrowing up to $46 million. They will also need $24 million more from provincial and federal funding, and annual financing payments through the Civic Facilities Reserve and targeting property tax revenues from the Yard Development. The city also said they could save $7 million in costs by “modifying non-functional elements”.

This will move the city’s debt limit, as they project it, from $75 million to $120 million. If the executive committee recommendations are approved, council will discuss it at their meeting on June 20.

Holding to that schedule, ground-breaking would begin in July.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP