The Town of Hinton is considering a plebiscite on the future of the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre when the next municipal election takes place on Oct. 20.
On Tuesday (March 25), council’s committee of the whole reached consensus to refer the report to a regular council meeting favouring administration engaging a contractor to conduct public engagement on modernizing the recreation centre.
“I just don’t feel like it’s responsible to move forward without some type of really clear direction from the citizens of the community,” said Coun. Albert Ostashek. “The opinions on it are so adamant and so polarized, it’s hard to know what the actual consensus opinion of the community is.”
The potential modernization of Hinton’s recreation centre has been a topic of public discussion for roughly 15 years. Last October, of the recreation centre. Its report also outlined for the facility.
These plans include maintaining the existing facility for $135.2 million, renovating the facility and building a new fieldhouse for $184.1 million and building a brand-new facility for $193.5 million.
These estimates do not consider revenue or grant funding. For any scenario, Hinton residents would pay the remainder via increased property taxes.
To ensure the public is informed enough to vote on the subject, the Town would hire a contractor to engage residents and present information on the three options.
“Getting them informed enough to make a decision on something so consequential, it is not simplistic,” said CAO Jordan Panasiuk. “It’s about going to grocery stores and talking to people at grocery stores and trying to capture the silent majority portion to get them informed.”
Mayor Nicholas Nissen argued the plebiscite should focus more on the potential tax impact on residents rather than the three options since that was of more relevance to voters.
Coun. Kristen Chambers emphasized public engagement should also highlight the cost of doing nothing and maintaining the existing facility, which would be a massive price tag.
While the total cost of the plebiscite and public engagement could cost up to $42,000, Coun. JoAnn Race noted renovating or replacing the recreation centre would ultimately cost millions.
“To me, this is our opportunity for our council to keep the conversation going,” Race said. “It seems like we start a conversation, and we never finish it.”
Coun. Trevor Haas noted that a plebiscite may actually end the conversation if residents voted for maintaining the existing facility, adding how he believed the recreation centre needed “a boost in the arm.”
Ostashek argued the point was ultimately to provide some clear indication of how the community thinks the Town should proceed.
“If it comes back that the community does not support extensive renovations or reconstruction of the recreation centre, so be it,” he added. “It’s time to stop talking about it and either not take action or take action.”
