Hay River (Feb 17/03) - A plebiscite on whether to borrow up to $4 million for a new aquatic centre in Hay River will be held March 26.

At its Feb. 10 meeting, town council set in motion the process leading up to the plebiscite. It approved the first and second reading of a bylaw permitting the borrowing of the money. A vote on third reading will take place after the plebiscite.

Council also plans to fund the $4.6-million project with up to $1 million from the recreation reserve. The next step will be a public meeting to explain the project to residents. No date has yet been set for the meeting.

Assistant Deputy Mayor Vern Tordoff said he would like to see more information provided to ratepayers on how much taxes would increase because of increased operation and management costs at a new aquatic centre.

"It's still pretty iffy," he said.

Tordoff said he would like assurances the project would not exceed budget, noting a proposed $1-million arena retrofit ended up costing $2.5 million.

Mayor Duncan McNeill said by the time council is ready to create a question for the plebiscite, there will be a reasonable idea of the costs.

Council also approved $3,000 to prepare an information package. The money was left over from the $12,000 previously approved for engineering studies.

If ratepayers back the project, construction could begin in May 2004 with an opening anticipated in June 2005.

The aquatic centre proposal includes a five-lane, 25-metre lap pool with leisure bay and beach entry, a 30-person whirlpool, a 150-foot water slide, a squash/racquetball court, and renovation of the current pool into a fitness centre.