The city will make its decision on an indoor turf facility a few weeks sooner than expected.
At last night’s meeting, Councillor Aldo Ruberto argued the city has spent enough time considering a possible turf field at Chapples Park.
“We’ve been working on this for about three years now. We’ve had input from every organization you can possibly think of, two or three times. It’s been studied to death,” Ruberto notes.
Lawmakers agreed to vote on June 24th on whether to start planning and other documents for the indoor turf facility.
Councillor Mark Bentz was against changing it from its original July 22nd date, saying it won’t help to rush to decide on the facility.
“Bringing it forward a few weeks early, is that going to get a shovel in the ground this fall?” Bentz asked city staff. “You’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re probably looking at next season for construction, right?”
City administration confirmed they will not be putting shovels in the ground this year.
The report to council lists the cost of “necessary site investigation and engineering, and the development of construction documents” as $3.6 million. It recommends a permanent metal building, which is expected to last 50 years or more and cost $30 million.
