Jack Froese (for MAYOR) – No. Langley Township needs to ensure proper funding is in place before making such a major commitment, to ensure we lesson the burden on taxpayers. We want to ensure that the pool does get built therefore, we need to keep all of our options open.
Rick Green (for MAYOR) – Yes and it will take a change in priorities to do so. When we have just spent over $22,000,000 over 4 ½ years in Operational Subsidy for the Langley Events Center we have a serious problem in the Township. With strong financial controls I believe that expenditure can be handled.
Petrina Arnason – YES I support the building of an Aldergrove Pool which meets the requirements of the Aldergrove Pool Committee and would allocate priority funding to this project.
Solon Bucholz – YES. To attain this, the growing budget needs to be readdressed and the cost and size needs to be brought back for public input.
David Davis – No. Land sales are an integral part of the funding for the pool.
Bev Dornan – Yes but there is a budgeted figure that is in place and other ways to pay for the building will have to be found if land sales do not come through.
Charlie Fox – Yes, it is a good idea and needed not only for it’s recreational and social value but for revitalization of the downtown core.
Mel Kositsky – Yes. The Township should commit to building a pool and other recreation facilities in Aldergrove, which would include in the future a new ice arena to replace an aging facility. Energy savings and other cost factors can be reduced by locating facilities together. These types of projects should be independent of land sales. Ideally the Township should work with the City of Abbotsford to build a regional pool and not end up competing for customers.
Clint Lee – Yes, it is clear that a new rec centre and pool would bring vibrancy into this neglected community.
Patricia Lessard – YES, it has been way too long in coming. The pool will contribute to physical and social health of the community.
Bob Long – Yes - and that commitment has already been made - the new council needs to determine the size and scope of the project and therefore the cost.*
Kevin Mitchell – YES. Land sales should never have been the funding vehicle for the facility. Instead, similar funds can easily be raised by simply enforcing the illegal suite bylaw and collecting $7 - 8 million dollars every year from the $550 annual fee levied on the estimated 12,000 - 16,000 illegal suites currently operating in the township. These funds, properly invested will easily pay off the $35 - $50 million dollar estimated cost of the facility within 10 years.
Jackie Mandzak – Yes. Aldergrove no longers has its lake as an option for swimming in the summer. They current pool is an outdoor pool that does not have the capacity to support the population – as was seen this past summer with the numerous pool closures as it’s equipment is not able clean the pool properly. A recreation centre that is built as community hub, with the possibility of meeting rooms, gyms, fitness centre and even the library housed within would give the entire community a place to go. A recreation centre that is built to provide more than just a pool gives the community a place to come together, a place for them to engage with one another and this is important for families, singles and seniors to put down roots.
Scott Nichols – Yes. The residents of Aldergrove have waited long enough for an indoor pool facility in their area. I am in favour of a 50-metre, eight-lane, deep-ended pool. People of all ages will benefit.
Kim Richter – YES. This new pool and recreation center has been needed for the last decade in order to support the youth and seniors in Aldergrove. I think it has been very sad and unfortunate that the current Council has used this pool as a political football over the last 3 years. They keep punting it back to staff with no real political will to make it happen yet the majority on the current Council made sure that an $8 Million expansion to the Langley Events Center occurred which was not budgeted for or publically vetted. How interesting that this LEC expansion was built and the ribbon cut in less than a year. Meanwhile, Aldergrove continues to be subjected to study after study on a new pool. This past summer, the Aldergrove outdoor pool was closed several times during peak usage periods to the detriment of all the youth in Aldergrove. The current Mayor used land sales as the excuse for not building a new pool yet this Council has not set up a savings account for a new pool and seems intent on pursuing their own personal ‘hobby horses’ which includes a new arena on the proposed pool site that many Aldergrove residents have made clear they do not want. They like their existing arena. Where there is a political will, there is a political way. It’s clear to me that neither political will nor way has existed on the part of the current Township Council relative to this pool. So Aldergrove’s youth and seniors continue to suffer without adequate and needed recreation and health care facilities.
Dave Stark – Yes. Aldergrove residents have been under-served by this council due to: 1) Poor representation by councillors who live in Aldergrove; and 2) Poor planning and visioning by this council. Reactive, and piecemeal plans to sell off prime property/green-space is a clear example of this ridiculous approach.
Michelle Sparrow – Yes. This is a key objective for me in the next term; we need to work to see shovels in the ground and see built a project that will benefit Aldergrove and the community as a whole.
Grant Ward – Yes, the Aldergrove rec centre and pool is definitely needed somewhere in the near or mid term and funding of it through surplus municipal lands would go a long way to ensure a frugel fiscal tax levy was kept a low as possible.
Blair Whitmarsh – No - There must be a solid economic plan for building the Aldergrove Recreation Centre