Town of Hay River approves deal for new $21.3M recreation centre

The Town of Hay River is finalizing the deal to build its new recreation centre.

The $21.3million project was solidified when town council voted to approve a letter of acceptance earlier this monthwith Clark Builders, which is expected to begin tearing down the old centre on July 2.

The deal has undergone some evolution since it was first publicly discussed.In an October plebiscite, voters gave the town permission to borrow up to $15 million to renovate thecentre.

Earlier this month the town said it haddecided to build a new recreation centre instead of renovating the old one, after negotiations with Clark Builders.

• Hay River recreation centre to be rebuilt, not renovated
• Feds, GNWT announce money for 13 projects in smaller communities

Two councillors voted against the letter of acceptance in the June 16 council vote. Councillor Keith Dohey says his opposition is based on the change in plans.

"Our public consultation was based on a renovation, and that's what we had presented at that time when we asked to borrow the money," he said.

"My opposition was based on the project changing directions and going for a full rebuild as opposed to a renovation."

Dohey says he doesn'toppose the project itself, but objects tohow it was presented tovoters.

In March, council set a target of $19.2 million for the project. The extra $2.1 million for the rebuild will be diverted from money earmarked for a sewer realignment project and road and sidewalk construction.

The town will also borrow $11 million, while the federal government is kicking in $4.2 million.

The town hopes to have the newcentre built by October 2017, in time for the Arctic Winter Games in 2018, which will be co-hosted by Hay River and Fort Smith.