Editorial

Pool decision a no-brainer


With very little fanfare, High Prairie Town Council met last week and approved a plan for a five-lane indoor swimming pool.

The “plan,” is simple and straightforward. Spend as little as possible building a nice pool. Of course.there was a little bump on the road in progress. Construction bids came in somewhere between 25 and 50 per cent (depending on whom you talk to) higher than expected. So, part of the plan is also spend a lot more than was expected. Oops.

All in all, there is no opposition on HP council to added costs. Councillors committed themselves a long-time ago to the pool. The only difference of opinion is in the timing of building. Another year wait is another $300,000 that can be raised to pay for the pool.

All councillors agree the pool, and in fact, expanded recreation facilities of all kinds, are needed amenities. The region has to be competitive in attracting and keeping people. Simple as that.

An indoor swimming pool is just one part of the interlocking puzzle that includes businesses, housing, other recreation and cultural facilities, jobs and more jobs, schools and hospitals, and in general, all the pieces that make up an attractive, vibrant, dynamic community.

This Wednesday, the MD of Big Lakes decides if they too will follow the “plan.”

It should also be an easy decision there.