A proposal by Clearview council member Kevin Elwood to close the Creemore arena has caused a bit of a alarm.
An article appeared in the Oct. 28 edition of the Enterprise Bulletin about the potential closure as discussed at an Oct. 24 budget meeting, and we have received some letters in response.
We did not attend the budget workshop but this is not the first time the topic has been raised.
The creation of the annual budget is a multi-phase process that began in the summer.
At a Sept. 12 meeting council members were asked to provide some informal ideas and guidance to staff to assist in shaping the staff proposed budget.
Council members went around the table and provided input. While most councillors talked about what they would like in terms of a wish list (water and sewer service for Nottawa, tree planting in Stayner, Creemore and other settlement areas, tennis courts in New Lowell and economic development), Councillor Kevin Elwood said he would recommend looking at closing one of Clearview’s arenas.
Council at the time was considering building a new branch of the Stayner library and two weeks later (on Sept. 26) council passed a motion to build the library as an addition to the Stayner arena. So when we are discussing closing one arena in Clearview, there is no doubt which one. His point was that if the arenas aren’t being used as much as they used to be and the facility is sitting empty at times, it is costing the community.
It is common to raise these types of ideas while brainstorming the budget. There is absolutely no reason to think that this will happen anytime soon. There is no indication that there is political will to close the Creemore arena in the immediate future. That’s not to say it won’t ever happen. In fact, the township’s recreation master plan recommends maintaining the existing arenas until 2017 and that a 20-year replacement schedule be developed. It also recommends the development of an indoor pool but the township hasn’t been that aggressive in its planning.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; proper plans need to be put in place for township facilities. It is premature to talk about closing the Creemore arena. That conversation must take place as part of an overall strategy about how to best serve the population, meeting their recreational needs in a cost efficient manner.
The council-proposed draft budget will be going up for comment at a public meeting on Nov. 14. Community members are encouraged to let council know how they feel about what is being proposed.
Council knows that closing the Creemore arena will not be a popular decision, especially without a proper plan in place. If they decided to put all resources into the creation of a recreation multiplex with year-round ice, a pool and other amenities, more people may be willing to support it.
The Nov. 14 public meeting is at town hall in Stayner, beginning at 6:30 p.m.