Fort officials are making a slightly sneaky move by funding the $5.4 million design project for the new pool out of their line of credit, rather than taking out a new loan.

This move allows them to avoid the risk of a public plebiscite. Normally, officials would have to give citizens 30 days to gather such a plebiscite, which, if sufficient, would then force a full public vote.

Fort Saskatchewan has along history of just such a thing happening. Plebiscites blocked construction of the Jubilee Recreation Centre in 1961, Harbour Pool in 1981, the Gym-Events Centre in 2001 and a new City Hall in 2008.

All four projects eventually went ahead, but only after modifications which usually included reducing their budget.

The city hall project, for example, originally budgeted at $25 million, was reduced to $18 million and approved in 2010.

The Gym Events Centre, on the other hand, was completely re-worked. Rather than a $3.8 million addition to the Legion building, it became the $19 million Dow Centennial Centre.

I feel the Dow Centennial Centre proposal succeeded because it used considerable public input and was intended to go to a public vote right from the start.

The lesson here is for City Council to be absolutely sure a major project has strong public support, and to look for that from the start. The new pool proposal is off to a good start. The spring census showed overwhelming support.

But znother, much bigger loan will be needed before starting construction. That loan will be subject to a plebiscite.

I agree with Mayor Gale Katchur that this project must be kept at or very near the original $54 million budget. Any increase must go to a public vote or risk another plebiscite.