Regarding the future of the swimming pool, a one-month break has been taken.

Regarding the swimming pool, all options are still open

A lot was discussed and asked at the council seminar. A price estimate was received for the spa cooperation.

At the seminar of the Imatra city council, it was presented on Monday 23.1. updated information about current swimming pool options.

The council went through, among other things, the boundary conditions of the pool option located in connection with the spa. In addition, the council heard an updated cost estimate for the renovation of the existing swimming hall and sports hall.

Based on Vahanen's condition assessment and the general increase in the cost level, the price of the thorough renovation has been estimated at around 30 million euros. This price estimate is inclusive of tax.

Detailed information about the spa option

The spa's CEO was presenting the cooperation option at the seminar Ari Aspia and chairman of the board of the spa Onni Hietalahti.

The Imatra city group already owns the Taikajoki pool located in connection with the spa, which is currently rented to the spa.

In the presented new cooperation model, the rest of the already existing swimming and changing facilities, for which the spa would pay rent, would be merged with this KOY Imatran Allas company.

The pool company would also have a new building, which would include an 8x25 meter swimming pool and a teaching pool. The price of the investment is estimated at 9 million euros at this stage.

Different options for the ownership structure of the new pool company were presented to the council. It is open whether the city would continue as the sole owner or whether the spa would be required to have an ownership stake in the company.

The representatives of the spa presented the purchase price of the premises they own at 6,5 million euros. The spa would pay this back to the pool company as capital rent. The final cost for the city would be the pool investment made as a new building.

The city would therefore pay rent to the pool company for the new building and the spa to the pool company for the other facilities.

Maintenance and operating costs for the spa

The spa would be responsible for the maintenance and operating costs of all pool facilities. In return, the spa would receive all the revenue from customer fees as well as an annual contractual compensation of around 100 euros from the city, which would cover, among other things, pool hall services for special groups.

According to the preliminary pricing model, personal monthly and annual passes and series tickets would be sold to the spa. With series tickets, the price of a swimming session would be 7 euros once, and the price of a 3-month monthly ticket would be 100 euros for adults and 50 euros for children. Tickets would allow free use of all pool areas.

Lots of discussion, questions and risk considerations

The cooperation model raised a lot of discussion and questions among the councilors. The discussion was mainly about responsibilities, the risks of cooperation for the city and ticket pricing.

Among the other options, the scope of the renovation and the conservation designation of the swimming hall in particular sparked discussion.

- The discussion was good and there was plenty of it. The councilors asked a lot, mayor Matias Hilden says.

The guidelines on the direction in which the preparation of the matter will be continued will be made in less than a month. Guidelines are now expected from political decision-makers.

- The delegates received a lot of information at the seminar. Now it's good to think about, among other things, big cost impacts in peace, chairman of the council Anna Helminen says.