LAC LA BICHE - A recent meeting behind closed doors between Lac La Biche County councillors and project managers for the $27 million aquatic centre construction project won't be a common occurrence for council, says Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov.
At a recent county council public meeting, councillors voted to take the latest update about the project into an in-camera session — going behind closed doors and turning off the public viewing feed. According to the agenda, the discussion was with the newly-hired project managers from BC-based Turnbull Construction Project Managers Ltd..
Following the hour-long private session, Reutov re-opened the public meeting and made a point to say that most of the project's future discussions would remain in open session.
"I would like to make a note or point to the public, that future meetings will be held, in portion, in public session," the mayor said, shortly after the in-camera session had ended and as councillors voted to accept the presentation they had heard from the project managers. "This one was held in closed session, but future ones will be held, in portion, in open session as well."
While no specific details from that meeting were provided, the mayor agreed that keeping the discussions in front of community members is a good way to keep everyone in the loop.
"(It) will be an important tool to update the public as things go on with the progress of the aquatic centre," he said.
When asked if there had been any changes to the costs or timelines of the project in the wake of the private meeting, Lac La Biche County's Associate CAO of Community and Recreation Services said the project was continuing to flow along.
"Right now, we still have a $27 million budget and an opening date of September 2025," said Darrell Lessmeister.
As time goes by on the project, which will next see the hiring of architects and contractors, there could be some fluctuations in costs and time deadlines, but Lessmeister says that right now, everything seems to be on track.
The new aquatic centre will be built alongside the Bold Center, connected to the south east corner of the recreation complex. The new aquatic centre will be approximately 30,000 square feet and will feature a regulation-sized swimming pool, a water slide, diving boards, a kiddie pool, hot tub, a viewing gallery, reception area, and a steam room/sauna. The project will see funding from the local, provincial and federal levels. Of the current $27 million price tag, $12 million will come from Lac La Biche County ratepayers, $9 million from provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding, and $6 million from federal government grants.
Floating a plan
Funding for the project was approved at all levels in 2020, but formal plans for a new centre to replace the community's existing Portage Pool have been in the works since 2015.
One of several priorities of the 2015-2020 Aquatic Services Strategic Plan created by Portage Pool officials and Lac La Biche County was to create a new facility to replace the now 30-year old, 17,000 square foot Portage Pool
When asked about an idea for when the first shovels may go into the ground, Lessmeister said there were still a lot of plans to finish before that point.
"It's too far off for a specific date at this point," he said, adding that when he knows that answer, so will the public. "It will all be in open session to hear."
More details on the concept plans for the new aquatic facility can be found on through digital links at www.lakelandtoday.ca
