Bafflegab

Last Tuesday Aurora Minor Ball came to council as a delegation. They are having problems accommodating their numbers on existing facilities. Overuse of facilities are creating undesirable even dangerous conditions. The need for additional fields have been identified in the Capital Forecast for the past several years. Each year a recommendation is made. Each year it is dismissed.

Last year, two million dollars were included in the Administration budget for purchase of land to accommodate the growing need. Funds were available in the Cash-in-Lieu Reserve Account. The money was collected from developers for the purpose. They cannot be used for any other purpose. If not used for the purpose collected, it cannot again be identified in new calculations for the next round of development charges.

Still council dismissed the staff recommendation.

Minor Ball came to council to emphasize the need and to discover why, once again provision for the facilities had been removed from the budget.

It was interesting to watch the issue being stickhandled. The normal process of tabling a motion for debate went by the board. Bafflegab was fast and furious. 'Is that all you want? What about a club house, a stadium? What else do you need ?' Finally, the Director was directed with a flourish to find a location and get to work on designs the very next day.

The delegation appeared to be understandably impressed.

Designs have been on hand for the past two years. There are two potential properties All that remains is for the Budget to be re-opened and the financial commitment made.

This year's budget is on council's agenda to be approved tonight. Will there be a motion to amend to add oodles of dough ? Perhaps by the same person who moved it be removed ?

We shall see.