St Marys Ontario $16-million Arena Expansion
From the April 6, 2006 Stratford Beacon Herald editorial on the St Marys Ontario Arena Expansion
A $16-million arena expansion and swimming pool project for a town of about 5,000 residents seems quite ambitious, especially when there is no provincial or federal funding in the plan. Yet, that is what St. Marys town council approved last week. The town will shortly be calling tenders and expects construction to begin this summer.
Mayor Tony Winter says he’s no risk taker, that he’s confident the project is workable and that community proponents will come up with the $5-million contribution to which they are committed. For the sake of Stonetown taxpayers, let’s hope he’s right because, even with that commitment, the town has to come up with the remainder of the money plus financing costs. Apart from those capital costs impacting property tax bills, local residents are expected to support the project and ongoing operational costs through program memberships for hockey, skating and swimming. And they will no doubt be asked to contribute to local fundraising efforts on top of that.
A $16-million arena expansion and swimming pool project for a town of about 5,000 residents seems quite ambitious, especially when there is no provincial or federal funding in the plan. Yet, that is what St. Marys town council approved last week. The town will shortly be calling tenders and expects construction to begin this summer.
Mayor Tony Winter says he’s no risk taker, that he’s confident the project is workable and that community proponents will come up with the $5-million contribution to which they are committed. For the sake of Stonetown taxpayers, let’s hope he’s right because, even with that commitment, the town has to come up with the remainder of the money plus financing costs. Apart from those capital costs impacting property tax bills, local residents are expected to support the project and ongoing operational costs through program memberships for hockey, skating and swimming. And they will no doubt be asked to contribute to local fundraising efforts on top of that.
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