Brome Lake aquatic center — revisited
Oh no! — Here we go again. Last year the residents of the Town of Brome Lake spoke out very clearly that they were, for the most part, not in favor of the project, not that it didn’t seem a nice thing to have and likely beneficial to some. The statement that those who signed the petitions were coerced into signing it, and that everybody is really in favor of the center is outrageous rubbish!
• The obvious cost of ongoing maintenance including management, staffing, and operation would be borne by the taxpayers.
• Eventually, major repairs and refurbishing of the installation would be borne by the taxpayers (rebuilding of anything made of concrete is very expensive).
I have always pointed out that the C.A.R.K.E. foundation has made a generous offer to be a major backer of building the center and that is well appreciated — but this is not a project widely needed by the public at large.
Some folks in Knowlton especially those in the business sectors see this as a great means of attracting people from likely the Montreal area, particularly those with money to spend, to come to buy expensive properties or to become regular shoppers.
But hey — the roads in TBL for the most part are paved and permit two way traffic — so why not build this center in West Brome (oh I see — too far from Knowlton) — besides they can very quickly go to Cowansville.
What about Iron Hill — same problem — and Bromont is a better and very close town for those residents to find what they want anyway. Note that while Bromont is a way more prosperous town due to the fact that they are right smack on the autoroute and closer to Montreal, and have their own private ski hill anyway, seem to have no burning need for an aquatic center. Mind you they have the “Glissade D’eau already — sort of an aquatic fun center which actually does benefit a much wider range of people, especially kids.
Foster or Fulford — same thing.
By the way I should point out that the “well off” in the area build their own fantastic swimming facilities anyway, including many living right on the water side of Brome Lake.
What we in the whole of the Town of Brome Lake, particularly in the outlying “boonies” of Foster, Fulford, Iron Hill, and West Brome want to see maintained is good basic services and holding taxes in control — not a showpiece down in Knowlton.
Foster on the aquatic centre project showing a viable and credible feasibility study, along with a full cost impact to taxpayers.
Mayor Burcombe derisively dismissed the 1,500-signature petition out of hand but is now enthusiastically supporting the petition being spearheaded by the real estate agent and her husband. What gives here?
The petition organizers against the mayor’s pool project rightly claim that the process initially employed in obtaining public support for the project, which included a CROP survey held in June 2015, was seriously flawed and undemocratic and that a referendum polling the entire adult TBL population should and must be held.