Committee to look into indoor pool for Niagara-on-the-Lake

the community have been ongoing for several years. Coun. Jim Collard said when he first ran for council in 1985, he had suggested that one be built at the former high school site in Virgil.

However, since then, he said there have been “all kinds of reasons why a small town can’t afford a pool.”

Collard suggested that the idea be given “a special level of discussion” by staff who are working on an inventory of recreational facilities and a parks and recreation master plan to be completed next year.

He also recommended that the new committee look at the repairs needed to keep the town’s two outdoor pools operating.

“There is an appetite for (an indoor pool) in town,” said Miele, who had lobbied for it in his election campaign in 2013.

The indoor pool committee will be asked to report back to council on the financial feasibility of building a facility by next March. Meetings will be held monthly with minutes being forwarded to council.

The draft terms of reference for the new committee goes to council for final approval in two weeks.

A staff report was presented to council four years ago regarding the feasibility of building an indoor facility. It concluded that construction costs would be $9 million to $14 million with yearly operating costs of about $300,000.