City of Cranbrook council last night set wheels in motion for an answer to a location for Kootenay East Youth Soccer Association’s (KEYSA) proposed $1.1 million indoor sports-field facility.

After hearing an update on KEYSA’s facility committee as to fundraising and plans for the facility, and reviewing a city staff report, council Feb. 4 unanimously agreed to direct staff to provide all options for the potential of Balment Park site to council ahead of its Feb. 25 meeting so a decision can be made.

Prior to council’s decision, KEYSA chair Mike Robinson and Jason Wheeldon addressed council.

“We’ve made true progress – at no cost to the taxpayer,” Wheeldon said, adding the final hurdle remaining is a location needs to be confirmed.

“Location does determine what the final building looks like,” Robinson said.

With $950,000 raised, “we are substantially complete” for funding, he said, taking council through the suggested phases of the project.

Phase one of the domed indoor facility would consist of “a basic entrance building with a perimeter fence around it.”

“We’re quite confident that shouldn’t be too much of a hurdle to get over,” Robinson said of the $150,000 remaining.

The majority of funds raised have come from a Columbia Basin Trust grant rolled over and available for 2019, with a further $260,000 from local donors.

A concern, Robinson said if the project does not proceed, is the local donations are non-refundable.

Review KEYSA’s Feb. 4 presentation to council

City Leisure Services Director Chris New noted in a report to council, “It is advisable that the analysis of financial feasibility based on accurate and complete information per locations would be the key to determining the success of the project.”

After some discussion, most centring around Balment Park as the preferred location, as opposed to Moir Park, Coun. Norma Blissett made a notice of motion that the city provide KEYSA land at Balment Park for the next meeting.

And Acting Mayor Wesly Graham sought a motion that staff brings in all information on Balment Park for Feb. 19, so council had a week to review it before the Feb. 25 meeting. Council unanimously supported it.

Blissett pointed out that 54% of Cranbrook’s school population is within one km of Balment Park – and none are near Moir.

“Being within walking distance certainly affects usage,” she said.

“We did have overwhelming support for the Balment location” at the open house and in letters, with only one in support of Moir Park, she added.

“I had hoped that we would have had a decision tonight” but councillors didn’t know that Mayor Lee Pratt and chief administrative officer David Kim would be absent. “You’ve been waiting a long time. And the community has been waiting,” she told the KEYSA delegation.

Coun. Mike Peabody commended the delegation for their efforts and for getting such financial backing without being a strain on taxpayers.  “It’s really fantastic. Good on you,” he said. “There are three locations at Balment that are reasonable. I’ve given up on Moir,” he added.

“If the decision is going to involve Balment, depending on where it is located, there are other parties with interest. We need to understand that,” pointed out Coun. Ron Popoff.

Lead image: A drawing showing the first phase of the proposed facility. New Dawn Developments drawing

e-KNOW

Article Share