The Burns Lake Pool Society heard fresh support for its goal of someday swimming laps in a Burns Lake municipal pool, even if it was simply an above-ground, summer-use-only pool for now.
The pool society has been working since 1996 to bring a pool to Burns Lake. Since then, the non-profit society has collected just over $50,000 in funds as well as architectural drawings and a 1996 budget.
On March 20, 2013, Martina Zechendorf, the society’s president, chaired the annual general meeting at the Immaculata parish hall. Approximately 16 people attended.
The agenda for the evening was to consider current and future prospects for a pool in Burns Lake, and what to do with the money they have collected in light of those prospects.
With the recent referendum approval - on the second try - of Regional District of Bulkley Nechako tax increases within area B, and part of area E, to support the expansion and maintenance of the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena in Burns Lake, the general feeling at the AGM was that there wouldn’t be much appetite for discussions surrounding another tax increase to support the construction and maintenance of a pool facility.
Despite the short-term unlikelihood of a new pool, the society has the option of bringing in Vanderhoof’s old portable, above-ground pool. The biggest problem with that option is finding a place to set it up.
“We ran into very many dead-ends for a place to put the pool,” said Zechendorf.
She said that the society could afford the costs related to bringing in and setting up the pool, but without a place to set it up, the option is moot.
The main question on the table last Wednesday was whether or not to keep the money available to support the long-term goal of a pool facility in Burns Lake, or to invest it and receive a better return on the capital for an indeterminate future time when a pool facility might become feasible.
New members of the society spoke strongly on the need for a pool in Burns Lake - even if only an outdoor summer-use pool - for youth swimming lessons and to get area residents accustomed to the benefits of having a public swimming pool right in town.
A proposal to consider loaning the money to the Burns Lake Medical Clinic Society, which is in the process of securing complete financing for its proposed medical clinic, was considered and rejected as possibly tying up the money for too long.
Instead, $45,000 of pool society funds will be placed into a one year, higher interest, savings account, with the balance being kept in reserve in case the society needs to move quickly on an opportunity. For example, if the society moves ahead with the option of inheriting, free of charge, the Vanderhoof portable pool, there would be transportation and possible repair costs involved.
Zechendorf was re-elected president of the Burns Lake Pool Society. New and old members of the society were also elected to various board positions.