Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Owen Sound Looks for Extension

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Owen Sound
by Manny Paiva    

The Mayor of Owen Sound is optimistic they will get an extension on the deadline to build the new 38 million dollar regional recreation centre.

Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners and City staff met with Huron Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell in Toronto on Tuesday to ask for a deadline on the infrastructure funding.

Her Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs handed out the provincial share of 11 million dollars for the rec centre.

Lovell Stanners says they explained the soil problems at Victoria Park and how they have to remove truckloads of soil and replace it with gravel.

And the Mayor says Mitchell understood the issue and seemed receptive to granting an extension past the March 31, 2011 deadline.

Lovell Stanners feels it helps that Mitchell knows Owen Sound and the importance of the new facility in the community.

Lovell Stanners tells Bayshore Broadcasting News they should get a response from the province next week and she is optimistic they will be allowed an extension.

Since the federal government also chipped in with 11 million dollars -- Lovell Stanners says they will make the same case to MP Larry Miller later this week.

City Council had hoped to begin construction at the end of November.

The deadline for tenders to begin the excavation work at Victoria Park is this Friday and City Council is expected to award the contract next Monday.

But Lovell Stanners says they will wait to finalize the deal until they get approval for the extension from both levels of government.

City officials hope to open the new Regional Recreation Centre by the fall of 2011.