MANITOUWADGE — The future of Oasis Pool was the subject of much conversation at this week's council meeting.
Oasis Pool shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic; however, it was unable to reopen in 2022 due to the lack of available contractors to perform extensive repair on a major leak from a 6-inch pipe going from the main pool to the mechanical room. Staff determined that 100 feet of piping would be needed to fix the leak. The total cost was quoted to be $40,000 on June 6 by Thermal Mechanical.
Before going ahead with the repairs, council decided to do a full pool assessment through TBT Engineering. They found additional mechanical, electrical, and structural issues that would need to be addressed before the pool can reopen.
Community services director Trish Boileau said the total cost of the rehabilitation would be over $100,000.
The municipality is applying for provincial funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
If Manitouwadge’s application is approved, NOHFC could cover up to 75 per cent of the total cost. Manitouwadge would have to contribute a total of $60,000.
During the discussion, Coun. Braden Kotyk insisted timing is essential. After not being used for three years, a grant application can be a lengthy process and tendering a contractor could put the municipal in a position where the condition of the pool can worsen.
“It's difficult for us with remote communities to get quick repairs on these things. Possibly if we do apply for the NOHFC grant, there's no telling how long it will take to get approved,” said Kotyk.
Kotyk asked the staff if they had a possible idea of a timeline for when repairs would begin.
CAO Florence MacLean responded by stating that the application could be “submitted fairly quickly” and the project could begin “before summer.”
Furthermore, a lot of the interior work can be completed while the snow is still melting.
Before approving the municipality’s investment and submitting the NOHFC application, Mayor Jim Moffat provided his thoughts on the project.
“I think it would be great to get the pool back up and running, especially with the announcements of Marathon having to shut their pool down, which would be helpful for people to communicate if they want to use a pool," Moffat said. "So, that's my thoughts, any way we can bring more people into Manitouwadge, enjoy what we have, that’s what it’s all about.”
