Smiths Falls council gave approval in principle for a new arena and fieldhouse to the tune of up to $50 million.
The projected expense for the two builds range between $39.5 to $49.5 million, with council and staff making it their clear goal to achieve the lowest cost possible, while adding the project will not move ahead without support from all levels of government.
CAO Malcom Morris told council they were recently unsuccessful in a $10 million funding request for the project but he was not surprised. The funding stream they applied to was intended for shovel ready projects for which this is not.
He made the case that although they didn’t receive a dime, their application was successful in the sense that higher-tier governments are now aware of their idea which may bode well for future grant applications.
Councillor Chris McGuire shared his reservations around the price tag.
McGuire feels school gyms are not being utilized to its full potential and that should be an avenue considered by the town, given schools are paid for by taxpayers.
Smiths Falls is still paying off $2.5 million until 2036 for the build of the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, which alongside the Youth Arena, operates at an approximate $733,000 annual loss.
Director of Community Services Stephanie Clark says the town cannot maintain the demand with the aging youth arena, and the single-pad SFMCC.
This new facility would run at a projected annual expense of $1,066,568 compared to a revenue projection of $903,897, making the argument the new facility would be cheaper as while the operating costs are higher, so is the revenue.
It’ll be the largest single infrastructure investment in town history, according to Mayor Shawn Pankow.
But one he feels they need to make.
The fieldhouse would not include a community pool, as Clark’s previously explained it’s too costly.
You can read the report presented to council here.
Story by Grant Deme