By Cheryl Jahn

Council approves more pool spending

May 9, 2022 | 8:47 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Council has approved borrowing an additional $2.87 million to complete the new downtown pool.

Originally, via referendum, Prince George residents approved the City borrowing of $35 million to build the pool.

A recent review of the project found that there were cost overruns in a few areas. $1.7 million was due to faulty primer on the steel, which came to Council’s attention several months ago. The City is seeking legal cost recovery for that amount. The remaining $1.77 million is due to labour increases and construction material cost increases.

“I just want to put out a reminder the budget for this project came forward in 2017,” noted Councillor Cori Ramsay. “It didn’t take into l the supply issues that came with COVID.”

Kittens rescued

7 kittens rescued from hazardous & unhealthy living conditions in Fort St. James

28m ago

Canfor Leisure Pool

City of Prince George files claim against designer of Canfor Leisure Pool

1h ago

Reproductive rights rally highlights bigger issue

18h ago

In fact, it was noted that, during the pandemic, inflation in the construction field alone has increased by five percent per month.

The back history to this story is lengthy. Prince George residents approved borrowing $35 million during a referendum in 2017.

More recently, the City was successful in securing $10 million in a federal/provincial grant. At the time, Council opted to spending half’s a million of that to add a Ninja Cross to the project, meaning $9.5 million could be used against the amount the City could borrow.

To date, the project is 84 percent completed with $23.8 million spent. With the $2.8 million approved, it means the debt is still $6.6 million below what the City has permission to borrow.