Not so silent E - The ice isn't always cleaner on the other side
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- Published on Friday, January 9, 2015
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
The holiday season is usually the time of the year when people will overspend on big ticket items and argue with their loved ones about it. It seems as though municipalities are the same way with town council in Minnedosa recently voting in favour of taking out a $3.5-million debenture to assist in the construction a new recreational facility. The total price for phase one of the arena development, according to the most recent feasibility study, is estimated at around $9.3-million.
This has been a long standing and at times contentious issue in the community of just over 2,500 people. While there are only a select few who don鈥檛 see a need for a new facility to replace the existing arena, which was built in 1947, concerns over the cost and scope of the proposal have kept many people debating its merits in coffee shops across the region for the past few years.
It could be much worse however, as there are still people who refuse on general principle to ever go near the grounds of the PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie, let along step foot inside the new facility. When it was first proposed, there were protests at Portage city hall and threats of a lawsuit over the issue. Most of the tension over that project developed from fear over substantial tax rate increases and unhappiness with the selected location on Island Park. Almost five years after the doors opened, the PCU Centre is still a topic that can illicit grand debate鈥nd by grand debate, I mean harsh shouting matches.
But I鈥檓 sure it鈥檒l be different in Minnedosa.
Hurt feelings over a new recreation centres were also par for the course in Killarney during the construction of the Shamrock Centre, which opened in 2008. People were up in arms about their taxes and cost overruns. The issues became so great that mayor Brian Moore quit after councillors voted to increase borrowing for the complex, feeling it was too extravagant for a community of around 2,200 residents. Moore stated the combined cost of the new facility, as well as the sewer and water cost, would put an awful lot of burden on the taxpayers of such a small community.
But I鈥檓 sure it鈥檒l be different in Minnedosa.
Just down the road in the town of Rivers, the plan for the Riverdale Community Recreation Complex became a massive, emotionally-charged debate. The initial cost estimate of about $6.5 million included about $2 million to be raised by a special property levy, which averaged out to an additional cost of about $345 per year over 15 years for area ratepayers. Suffice it to say, many people were not lining up to cut that cheque.
But I'm sure it'll be different in Minnedosa.
As for this current Rec Centre discussion, Minnedosa mayor Ray Orr recently stated that public hearings on the proposal will be held later this month. If recent history from other communities is any indicator those hearings is going to illicit some grand debate鈥nd by grand debate, I of course mean harsh shouting matches. I may be wrong in my assertions, but with so many recent examples of spending gone wild across the province when it comes to arena projects, it鈥檚 hard to be optimistic.
I just hope that it鈥檒l be different in Minnedosa.
