It was a good turnout for the open house in Sparwood on Thursday, September 29, with local voters gathering at the Leisure Centre to learn more about the two projects that they’ll vote on the funding for at the October 15 election.
On the ballot in October will be (up to) $18 million worth of things to think about, with the district asking voters to decide on allowing the district to borrow up to $3 million for the renovation and expansion of Fire Hall #2 in Sparwood Heights, and up to $15 million to finance the construction of a new multi-purpose facility.
At the Leisure Centre on Thursday, chair of the advisory committee that got the multi-purpose facility designs to where they are today, Mike Harrington, said that he was pleased with the turnout.
“I see a good cross-section of people,” he said. “Different groups, ages, newcomers and old-time residents.”
Harrington said that with a few dozen conversations done over the night, he’d been getting good feedback.
“Overall positive with the project (but) the challenge will be the cost, and that’s going to be a personal decision (for voters)” he said.
The facility as envisaged in the conceptual stage would see 60,000 square feet of indoor space tacked onto the existing leisure centre in Sparwood, with the space intended to provide more space for indoor activities and events, and act as a hub for the community.
On hand for voters on the night were displays of the designs, information on how they got there, and tools for residents to calculate the impact to their taxes that a large loan could have.
Also at the event was information on the renovation and expansion of Fire Hall #2, which is located in Sparwood Heights, is the base for half the town’s fire department, and prevents fire response teams from being cut off from different parts of the town should there be incidents along Hwy. 43, which acts as a choke point between the two parts of Sparwood.
The district is asking if it can borrow up to $3 million for that project, given the existing hall is too small for the fire equipment currently with the district.
Voters will decide on borrowing the funds for the projects at the October 15 election.
READ MORE: Sparwood’s multi-purpose facility comes to light
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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