By Andrew de Souza

Concerns over field house irrigation raised

Dec 7, 2010 | 11:01 AM

City councillors were divided over whether or not the Alfred Jenkins Field House should install an irrigation system to water its two outdoor soccer pitches at a cost of $80,000.

At the city’s executive committee meeting Monday, city manager Robert Cotterill presented a report that recommended the irrigation. The report said it was needed in order to create tournament-level soccer fields due to the short growing season in the region.

The city’s director of community services Greg Zeeben said without such a system, the grass probably wouldn’t stand a chance against heavy use since it would all be new sod.

“The pressure that would be put on the turf by active soccer play will be quite extensive and without irrigation we will not be able to put ideal growing conditions for the turf throughout the year,” he said.

Some councillors weren’t in favour of the sudden addition with a large price tag. Councillor Lee Atkinson said he didn’t like that the field house was more important than other areas of the city by default.

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“What did we forget about that? If we need money for this project to do it, it should be factored into all the needs and wants that the city has all over the place,” said Atkinson.

“It’s going to be an extremely tough budget and you know what? $80,000 could be used in a number of different areas.”

Cotterill explained that the money wouldn’t come out of the city’s budget but would instead be added to the Capital Projects Levy. Some councillors weren’t pleased by that explanation.

In the end, councillors voted in favour of the addition of the irrigation with three councillors opposing.
City council will have the final word on Dec. 13.

adesouza@panow.com