An integrated recreational facility in Swift Current has long been a dream of many councils and residents. But it's one that has never quite come to pass for a variety of reasons.

So when an opportunity came up for another grant opportunity, this time for a scaled-down, phased approach Field House on the same spot of land, it was deserving of a conversation at the very least.

That conversation, however, was not an easy one.

Coming in on the heels of taking on more debt for an expansion of their electrical expansion area to the tune of $15 million dollars, another $12.5 million was a tough ask for a council that has thus far largely been focusing their tenure on a 'needs vs wants' mentality.

According to Jim Jones, General Manager of Community Services, however, opportunities like the Green and Community Buildings grant don't come along every day, and will likely become more rare as COVID-19 fades into the past.

"We probably are not going to get an opportunity for a grant like this for another 5 years at least. In fact, when we look at originally when we looked at the ICIP grant it was over 10 years before we got that (opportunity). With COVID and the pandemic, we've had lots of opportunities to get infrastructure moving again, but I think that's going to come to an end."

Despite the opportunity, it was the short-notice nature of the application that gave council members pause, with no real plans in place for a proposed field house, and no real estimate of final cost except for an assurance from Jones that the designers have been told that the city will not spend more than $25 million.

Councillor Tom Christianson summed up what many were feeling during the 42-minute discussion.

"I haven't seen plans for this fieldhouse. I don't think we have an accurate cost on construction and operation yet. I think that's a little bit unknown. So we're not really sure how much we're committing to adding to our debt level with a clear understanding of the structure we're approving. In the past, we've followed a certain strategy in the city to fund a lot of medium and smaller ticket items through debt and that handcuffs us a little bit in making a decision on this facility."

Councillor John Wall was blunter in his criticism.

"We just are going to borrow $15 million for SaskPower. And now we want to add another $12, almost $13 million SaskPower was a need, and this is a want, in my opinion and I will not support it."

Jones agreed with Wall, but added that so far the only dollars that they have currently sunk into the project are what they are paying P3A Architecture Partnership for the potential design for a Field House and an Aquatic Centre last year.

"These would be the only expenses we have so far. And Councillor Wall is exactly right. This is a big ask. But I said at the end of the day when Mr. Marcus and I sat down we still say that these grants are available. We need to pitch them. And then it needs to be a council decision if you move forward on it or not. If you decide not to move forward on it, at least we've given you the information that you need to require in order to make those decisions."

In the end, the vote to apply for the Green and Community Buildings program did pass, with Councillor Wall asking that his negative vote be noted in the records.

Should the grant be approved, there is no word on when construction would begin.