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Stacy Neufeld 306-621-3680 Volume 48, Issue 10 Price - $1.52 plus GST
Your Community Connection
Return undeliverable items to: Yorkton This Week 20 Third Ave. N., Yorkton, SK S3N 2X3
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Growing numbers of football players in the city, such as the Lady Gridders program, has led to calls for another field to play on.
Footballers look to city for new field By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer Yorkton Minor Football was back before the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday seeking an additional field to play on. The group had appeared in 2019, looking for a field approximately160 yards by 65 yards near Century Field to alleviate wear and tear on the main field. At that time, it was suggested the space that is adjacent to the Lions Ball Diamond by the Kinsmen Arena. It could be a combined space used by
In a nutshell we’ve just grown the amount of kids playing football, and we’re out of room. — Roby Sharpe baseball, football and lacrosse. Spokesperson Roby Sharpe said Monday a combination field is not unusual noting Brandon has one. He added it wouldn’t take a lot of work to turn it into a dual purpose facility. But as it stands now the need is not being met.
“In a nutshell we’ve just grown the amount of kids playing football, and we’re out of room,” he said. There are approximately 175 participants in minor football during the season in the various ages categories; Mighty Mites, Atoms, Pee Wees, Bantams and Lady Gridders.
The football season runs from early August until mid-November, explained a letter circulated to Council Monday. “In 20-years we’ve grown to a substantial minor sport program in our city,” said Sharpe. The added numbers put pressure on existing fields, in particularly impacting Century Field. “The current fields are not enough space to run practices for all levels of football. One of the practice fields is shared with the school soccer program. Plus, Century Field is the game field – all levels of practices are very limited
to using that space as the field conditions worsen drastically the more the field is used. The overuse kills the grass in various parts of the field – mainly right at center field – and this can lead to safety concerns for the players as the grass erodes and the dirt area gets extremely hard,” detailed the letter. Sharpe said by being before Council again, he hopes to kick start the project. “Our goal here today is to have it referred to budget,” he said. The request was filed and referred to City Administration.
$7.2 M Clubhouse project off to tender By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer A new clubhouse for Deer Park Golf Course was given the green light, sort of, at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council. With Councillors Quinn Haider and Darcy Zaharia opposed Council approved a budget of $7,200,000 for the project. But, the project will still need to come back to Council after tenders
are received, and could be altered, even if the tenders come in below budget. There will actually be three related tenders put out in the next few weeks. The main building for the clubhouse has a suggested budget of just under $5 million. Site work, including demolition of the existing clubhouse, asphalt and landscaping is budgeted at $1.2 million. And extending water
and sewer services to the course at $924,000. The overall project is budgeted at $7,140,120. As part of the original conceptual planning process, a high level estimate range of between $4 and $7 million dollars was provided to Council during the Feasibility Study Council presentation on Oct. 26, 2020. The matter was before Council as the Deer Park Clubhouse Steering Committee and
aodbt Architecture and Interior Design have completed the 100 per cent design process for a proposed new Clubhouse, explained Darcy McLeod – Director of Community Development, Parks & Recreation, with the City. As for paying for the project, if it ultimately moves forward it was suggested it could be funded partially with $2.2 million in realized cost savings on the City Operations Centre Project.
The City would then need to borrow $5 million, with payments to come from previous Gallagher Centre Debt payments. While Council would approve going to tender, it was not without protracted debate. Councillor Haider was one not wanting to move forward citing the cost of whatever might be needed to revitalize or replace the Kinsmen Arena remains on the
horizon too and the golf clubhouse decision should not be made in isolation of knowing more about that project. McLeod said the finding of a consultant who is determining what it will cost to keep the existing Kinsmen Arena viable for the next 15 years is expected to be presented at the Nov. 15 meeting of Council. Zaharia agreed.
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Cemetery costs jumping Jan. 1, 2022 By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer It is going to cost significantly more to be buried in the Yorkton City Cemetery following a decision by Council to increase several fees and services. “A review of fees and charges has been completed and compared to other Saskatchewan Municipal Cemeteries to determine
where changes in the fee structure could positively impact our cost recovery,” explained Darcy McLeod – Director of Recreation & Community Services with the City at the regular meeting of Council. “The Cemetery endeavors to operate on a cost recovery basis with the main source of revenue being through plot sales and interment services.” However, plot sales have slowed as multiple burials in
The Cemetery endeavors to operate on a cost recovery basis with the main source of revenue being through plot sales and interment services. — Darcy McLeod – Director of Recreation & Community Services the same plot are becoming more common, added McLeod. The review process discov-
ered “they do not reflect all the costs associated with annual general maintenance,” said
McLeod. As a result, generally fees and charges were recommended to increase, although a few did decline, offered McLeod. One of the major increases approved by Council is a 25 per cent rise in the perpetual Care Fund fee. Plot costs are going up 25 per cent too. The increase is “to partly
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