Intermunicipal swimming pool project: clarifications
Deux-Montagnes, August 8, 2016 – Mayor Denis Martin of Deux-Montagnes would like to clarify certain points in response to an article that appeared in the Journal l’Éveil on August 6 and information being spread on social media concerning the intermunicipal swimming pool to be shared with the Town of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac.
First of all, contrary to what was written in the news article, the construction cost of the project will not be $10 million but $8 million. Please note, however, that theJournal l’Éveil, since being informed of the error, has posted a correction on its website. There is no land acquisition cost for the pool site, which has been supplied by the Town of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac. The land will subsequently remain the property of the town. We have a similar agreement respecting police headquarters. This building belongs to the four member towns, but the land remains the property of the City of Deux-Montagnes.
One opponent of the project mentions in theJournal l’Éveil article that an “information meeting” concerning the swimming pool project was organized on June 20. In fact, however, this was a public consultation where citizens had the opportunity to express their views on the matter. The North Shore News, which attended the consultation, published an article on June 24, where the paper remarked that the majority of those present were in favour of the swimming pool project.
On social media, some people are claiming that there will be a tax increase in order to build the indoor pool. Mayor Denis Martin wishes to state clearly that “the swimming pool project will not mean any increase in taxes.” The mayor goes on to say that “since my election in 2013, Deux-Montagnes residents have had the lowest tax increases in the region. These facts are perfectly well known and verifiable. To make progressive projects like pools happen, you don’t always have to raise taxes, you simply manage public funds the right way and make the right choices.”
Opponents to the projects forget to mention that construction and operating costs will be divided between two towns, because this is a project shared with Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac. The financial package was clearly presented at the public consultation. The money that the City of Deux-Montagnes will need in order to fund the project (construction and operation) will come at the end of the loan taken out for construction of the Olympia Arena and recovery of the losses associated with the Corporation du Manoir Grand-Moulin, phase 1. The financing is completed by the amount that Deux-Montagnes will obtain annually from Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac for use of the Olympia Arena. We should point out as well that the swimming pool project qualifies for a support under a new federal-provincial subsidies program. This program would help finance up to 66⅓% of the project, making it even more affordable than it is already.
Mayor Martin points out that “we’ve had really excellent cooperation from the Town of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac in areas like the fire department, police force, and water treatment department, among others. The fact that we share operating costs for various municipal services with Sainte-Marthe is beneficial for the residents of both municipalities.”
Governance and management planned for the future swimming pool will take the same approach as with the police department and water treatment service. The municipal departments will be subject to auditing by external sources and will form part of the towns’ consolidated budget.
We share the opinion of a group of residents who wrote last week in favour of the planned swimming pool, that “an indoor public swimming pool is necessary for Deux-Montagnes. A pool benefits residents of all age groups and will help diversify the sports and recreational activities available in the City of Deux-Montagnes. Having such recreation activities available will attract new residents and provide an even more dynamic lifestyle in our community.”
