Elliot Lake council is putting up the cash in a bid to secure a provincial grant for continuing renovation work at the Ruben Yli-Juuti pool. The pool has been closed since last summer.
The grant the city is seeking would come from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and would see council commit a cash contribution of $1,581,651 to the $3,163,303 project for mechanical updates needed to complete the work.
Acting Director of Public Works Bill Goulding brought the matter to council at its meeting Monday evening, which would also involve a city commitment to cover any cost overruns if there are any. Staff had recommended council approve the financial commitment to allow an application for the NOHFC funding to move forward.
“Last year we realized a number of repairs to the air handling units at the municipal pool. That project cost $946,000 and the NOHFC was gracious enough to fund half of that project and invited us to apply for future work that may have to be done,” Goulding said, referring to the current application for partial funding of slightly more than $3 million.
“The NOHFC’s community enhancement program funds up to 50 per cent of eligible programs and we understand this project is eligible,” he added.
Councillor Charlie Flintoff asked whether there was any indication of when the city will know if it will get the funding.
Goulding said he expects a decision close to the end of the year.
Coun. Luc Morrissette asked whether the pool renovations will move forward despite the city not having confirmation of the grant approval.
“The pool project is going forward no matter what,” Goulding said, referring to council’s commitment to repair the pool to extend its life up to 15 years more.
The unofficial reopening of the pool is likely at the end of February or early spring, according to Goulding.