Just do it.

But do it somewhere else.

All but for a few exceptions, that was the message that greeted councillors repeatedly during a Tuesday evening meeting focusing on concerns over Orillia’s beleaguered recreation project.

Residents frustrated by spiraling costs and unresolved environmental questions urged council to build the project on lands other than a polluted West Street site.

“This is an absolute nightmare,” said Kelly Clune, one of close to 20 speakers that night.

Lillian Marsden cited concerns over the vinyl chloride that lurks beneath the surface of the former industrial lands as reason enough to relocate.

“You are burdened with a responsibility of the highest degree – to ensure the health and safety of our children and future generations,” Marsden told council members. “You will do this when deciding whether to build the MURF on a safer property, or build where vinyl chloride exists.”

“Lovely location, but sick site,” agreed former environmental advisory committee chair David Stinson.

The project’s cost was frequently cited as a concern.

“What will the operating costs be, and how high will you allow this to go before you cry uncle?” asked Marilyn Rolland.

Building a multi-million-dollar facility in uncertain economic times is unwise, warned Bill Bies.

“We don’t have to build it,” he said. “We have to back off a bit, because we are heading for a recession.”

Bies suggested the city focus its efforts on establishing Lakehead University’s permanent campus, saying the school and city could co-fund a pool and arenas.

Cost concerns were heard elsewhere, with Keith Elliott questioning the use of profits generated by Orillia’s power utility for the recreation complex.

“This $2.5 million in annual revenues could be utilized towards other needed projects and restoration of infrastructure, which would lighten the citizens’ tax burden during these increasingly troubled economic times,” he said.

The local man, his voice rising in volume, then criticized Mayor Ron Stevens for temporarily withholding a report outlining ministry concerns over the latest risk assessment, even as council voted to increase the project’s budget.

“Although our mayor has said, ‘I take full responsibility’ for the MOE reports being withheld, nowhere have we seen nor heard the mayor say he is contrite or sorry for such outrageous conduct,” Elliott said.

“Please keep to the issues,” Stevens replied.

“That is the issue,” a member of the audience called out.

Concerns over an apparent lack of transparency were echoed by resident Frank Gauthier, who demanded that future reports be made public in a timely manner.

“They are not your reports, they are our reports,” he said. “We have paid for them with our tax dollars.”

Gauthier, a self-described “beleaguered taxpayer,” said he watched with “increasing despair, alarm and indeed horror as this poorly managed project has come undone.

“There is still no final cost, no resolution in sight,” he added. “Had we used common sense in the beginning, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

A few audience members spoke in favour of the West Street site.

“It has to be cleaned up, it cannot be left like that,” said Marian Wallis. “It should be cleaned up and the MURF should be put there.”

Brian Hare agreed, while charging that environmental concerns are being grossly overstated.

“I’ve been in Orillia for 40 years and I’m still waiting for the explosion,” Hare told those gathered.

Asked whether he had learned anything new that evening, Mayor Ron Stevens said no.

“Clearly, the group that asked for this meeting was the Millard group,” he said in reference to a citizens’ group that has been critical of council’s handling of the project.

“For the most part, we heard the same people over and over again,” he added. “There was a couple of new ones tonight.”

The speakers’ comments will be “ingested” by council and considered during future discussions, Stevens said.