A fiscal decision ruffled some feathers at Bluewater’s budget meeting on Wednesday (February 21), councillors engaged in extensive deliberations over the replacement and refurbishment of lighting systems at local ball diamonds in Hensall, Zurich, and Varna.
While some councilors advocated for immediate action citing safety concerns and community commitments, others voiced reservations about the budgetary implications and the need for thorough assessment.
Councilor Scott Harris expressed concerns about deferring the lighting replacement, citing community feedback and upcoming baseball events.
Deputy Mayor John Becker underscored the financial strain on taxpayers and advocated for a pragmatic approach.
The debate extended to considerations of previous lighting upgrades and the necessity of comprehensive solutions to ensure safety and usability – and Councilor Peter Walden didn’t hold back when he voiced his opinion that the projects should absolutely not be deferred as recommended by staff.
He said that at the end of the day, council only had themselves to blame for the large expense that these lights would incur, as they weren’t that old.
Ultimately, Councilor Groot’s motion to allocate funds from the vibrancy reserve for the Hensall ball diamond lighting replacement garnered approval, reflecting a compromise between immediate action and fiscal responsibility.
While discussions on deferring lighting replacements for the Zurich and North baseball diamonds at Stanley Complex ensued, Council opted to proceed with reallocating resources and prioritizing projects based on community needs and budgetary constraints.
Time will tell what the final price tags of the projects will be when they go out for tender, although staff did say that they hope to repurpose the lights that will be removed from the Zurich diamond to help supplement the lighting in Varna.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
