By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Council split on finishing second-floor construction at new Smith activity centre

May 6, 2021 | 5:30 AM

One member of Grande Prairie City Council says he is disappointed the second floor will not be completed at the new activity/reception centre being built in the Smith area.

A motion from Councillor Kevin O’Toole to go ahead with the entire project was defeated on a tie vote at Monday’s meeting.

‘I’ve been on council for a number of years and prior to that, I saw a number of projects that would be funded about 80 per cent or we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that. It just doesn’t seem to happen, or it takes a long time to complete it.”

Mayor Jackie Clayton says the city wants to see how the building is used first before deciding what to install on the second floor.

‘We don’t have programming established yet and in my opinion and in council’s opinion it was let’s see how this facility serves our community and serves the neighbourhoods. (We’ll) come back in time and assess that and evaluate that.”

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O’Toole says while he is disappointed, he also understands.

“We have a concern with not spending too much money this year and I get that. But it’s nice to have a project that considered completed and that is what left me a little disappointed.”

Clayton says this would be a fieldhouse-type facility for sports like basketball and volleyball, office and meeting space and maybe a drop-in centre. There would also be a rope-free climbing wall.

The $400,000 that had been budgeted for the second-floor work will be kept in a reserve fund.

The building is expected to be completed this year.