Nearly $2 million in capital spending was approved by Innisfil council ahead of its 2025-2026 budget deliberations.
Council approved funding of $1.898 million from the capital reserve at its Oct. 23 meeting to expedite required repairs for the Innisfil Recreational Complex (IRC).
The funding request was set to be included in the next budget cycle. The repairs it will cover are items that have been highlighted through building condition assessments and “prioritize and address equipment and infrastructure defects before they result in critical failures,” a staff report indicated.
Committing the funds now, staff continued, will save the town from service disruptions and spending more money on untimely repairs. Deputy Mayor Kenneth Fowler suggested the building may not be able to be insured unless those items aren’t in a state of good repair and up to standard while asking questions of staff.
Insurance is one thing, but more essential is being able to keep the doors open, the deputy mayor was told.
“Some of the units, it’s a matter of if they aren’t working then we can operate the building,” town facilities operations manager Nikki Balazs told councillors during the meeting. “For example, the upgrades to the compressors that is within the scope; if those compressors aren’t working, then we can’t operate the ice system.”
The urgency to make a decision now stems from government funding currently available that could cut the town’s cost by nearly half.
The Community Sports and Recreation Infrastructure Fund is being offered by the Ontario government to help extend the life of sports and recreation buildings across the province. The first stream of the program, which will provide between $150,000 and $ 1 million to successful applicants, focuses on the repair and rehabilitation of existing facilities, up to 50 per cent of the total cost.
Applications are due to the province by Oct. 29, hastening the need for council to act ahead of its budget deliberations.
Coun. Robert Saunders was in support of the motion, but wanted to make sure a full scope of projects was being considered by staff.
“Is it possible that we could have … a little bit of input?” he said, speaking on behalf of the accessibility committee. “We’re not ever going to tell you how to do your job or budget … but there’s stuff we’d like to get done.”
Stuff is getting done, the councillor was assured.
“We do touch base with the committees on all our capital projects,” Balaz said. “For example, right now, we are doing a replacement of the Knock Community Centre accessibility ramp.”
Including $380,000 approved in the last budget cycle for the replacement of the pool dehumidifier, town staff have identified a total of $2.278 million in repairs needed for the IRC, including:
- $509,000 for HVAC repairs and replacement
- $404,000 for ice-making equipment
- $485,000 for arena/building improvements
- $880,000 for pool area repairs.
“The (IRC) is by far the town’s largest and most complex building and due to its constant use, critical equipment is wearing out faster than anticipated,” the staff report said. “The funds requested for advanced approval … represent the cost to renew critical systems, update features that improve user experience, and integrate energy efficiency or emission reduction measures into the facility.”
More people and organizations utilize the recreation complex than any other municipal building in Innisfil, staff noted, including minor hockey and the Junior “A” Innisfil Spartans. Both high schools in Innisfil hold graduation ceremonies at the building and it is home to the southernmost location of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, which boasts 5,650 members.
If successful, any funding received by the town must be spent within two years. Current projections indicated spending of $1.751 million in 2025 and $527,000 in 2026.
