In the turf facility saga Monday night, a firm will get $1.5-million to create engineering and design documents.
In what some on Council indicate is a risky decision, the city is giving Stantec Architecture the go-ahead despite not knowing what outside funding is available for the $30-million facility.
Once complete, that will help hammer out the details for the construction of the metal building proposed for Chapples Park.
Councillor Mark Bentz says he supports the project but doesn’t want to proceed until more funding is secured.
Bentz suggested waiting until they hear back on federal and provincial funding applications.
City staff say their request to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program isn’t expected back until next September, which could delay their planned August 2020 construction start.
As well, that funding would only be available if the turf centre is run by a not-for-profit.
Mayor Bill Mauro pushed back against Bentz’s view, emphasizing Council shouldn’t wait any longer to bring the project closer to putting shovels in the ground.
Councillor Cody Fraser pointed out what he suggests is a double standard for sports in the city, claiming the matter would have been resolved much quicker if there were no available indoor hockey rinks.
The search for an indoor turf facility was spurred on following the collapse of the Sports Dome on the CLE Grounds in a November 2016 snowstorm.
It threw the soccer community into chaos since both men’s and women’s clubs were forced to cancel their seasons because there was no place to play.
In 2017, local soccer clubs were given a glimmer of hope with news Soccer Northwest was trying to get a temporary facility set up at a vacant sawmill on Maureen Street but that fell through because of a legal roadblock.
Fast forward to early 2018, when city council started the process by voting to build such a complex, which was kicked into high gear after city administration began working behind the scenes to make a reality at Chapples Park.
After an appeal by local tennis officials, Council committed to including six tennis courts in the project, but then reversed their decision.
Mayor Mauro has made building the turf facility a top priority throwing his full support behind it.
Now, on the heels of that vote, we decided to take our news mic into the community and ask if you think we even need a turf facility.
https://soundcloud.com/acadianews/turfopinion
