Saugeen Shores council is looking into the possibility of partnering with the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey-Bruce toward a new aquatics facility, but not all are on board.
Council voted 7-1 to enter a memorandum of understanding with the YMCA to hire a consultant to complete a feasibility study for a new indoor pool and recreation centre, which has previously been pegged at more than $20-million to construct and would operate with an estimated $500,000 per year deficit.
YMCA CEO Gayle Graham says it's the first step of potentially many steps, but they need to first find out exactly what the community wants and can afford.
"There's lots of work to do, this is the first step, the MOU, so it shows an intent, a commitment, to work together," says Graham. "But we need to do a feasibility study and that will help us understand and inform future decisions."
Owners of private fitness facilities in the community were on hand to urge council to avoid competing against them for fitness programming, as the assumption is a YMCA facility would include gym space.
Ann MacKay owns Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin and says the municipality has not consulted with recreation businesses in town and they are worried about what the future might hold.
"We have not been encouraged to have any input, nobody from the town has approached us for partnerships or for anything," says MacKay. "So I really don't know where the town is going other than I think they're showing an intent to work with the Y."
Graham says there's evidence to suggest a new YMCA facility in Saugeen Shores could be good for private business.
"What we find is that when a new facility opens, there's a huge increase in interest in health and fitness," says Graham. "[People] go out and they look, they look at the new facility, they look at existing facilities, and then they choose what fits best for them, so I would expect the existing facilities would see an increase in interest."
Saugeen Shores council has earmarked up to $40,000 from reserves to pay for a consultant to complete the feasibility study.