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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012
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Sportsplex and outdoor pool to be spared the axe KRISTEN DOUGLAS CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
PAUL RUDAN/THE MIRROR
Ha-cha-cha-cha! Discovery Passage is always cold, especially in the winter, but Eddy Cliff, 34, dove in every day for 29 straight days to raise money and food for the Campbell River Food Bank. See more photos on Page A3.
The fate of the Sportsplex, Centennial Pool and fire crews was sealed by council this week. City council went through a list of potential service cuts at a financial planning meeting Tuesday night in an effort to eliminate a $3.6 million 2012 budget deficit. Council decided not to close the Sportsplex for July and August which would have saved $111,000 but would have eliminated 29,800 visits and displaced several user groups and forced the cancellation of 15 special summertime events, such as Movies Under the Stars. “I believe it’s not in the best interest of the community because a lot of important events would be lost and there would be a disruption to city staff (who would have to be laid off),” Coun. Claire Moglove said. Coun. Larry Samson agreed closing the Sportsplex was not an option. “I don’t think we should be closing the Sportsplex, it’s too important to our youth,” he said. “I just think it’s a non-starter.” Council also chose to keep Centennial Pool open and fund operations with the gaming reserve, a replenishing reserve used to fund community social services.
Council also had a lengthy discussion surrounding reducing four-person fire crews down to three in an effort to save $311,310. Moglove tabled a motion to remove reducing fire crews from the list of options. “I believe it comes down to public safety,” Moglove said. Samson, a former fire chief, said reducing the number of first responders would be putting the city and the fire department in harm’s way. “Our dollar loss (after a fire) is among some of the lowest in the province and it’s because of our firefighters,” Samson said. “For $2 a month, I don’t think we should reduce the manpower of our fire department.” Coun. Andy Adams said although he was loathe to not support taking the reduction off the table, he said he felt because of the serious financial situation the city is in, it had to remain Continued on A3
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