Recreation Quispamsis earmarks money for project, but Rothesay not putting arena funds in its financial plan

B6

ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

ROTHESAY - Quispamsis will earmark some money for the Q-Plex in its upcoming budget, but Rothesay won't dedicate any of its budgetary means toward a new rink.

Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop said while deliberations over the 2009 town budget are continuing, funding will not be allocated for an arena.

"Anything that would be done would not be in next year's budget," Bishop said.

He said the earliest a new arena would go up would be in 2010.

Rothesay town manager John Jarvie said if there is to be a major capital project such as an arena, council would have to vote on it and the money would be borrowed with the payments to be made in the following fiscal year.

Local developers Bob and Scott Darling have proposed to build a two-ice surface rink on Isaac Street in Rothesay. The pair had hoped to have the facility up and running by Christmas 2009, but after a question-and-answer session at a recent town hall meeting, it was determined the timeline was not feasible. Council cited public hearings and the rezoning process as reasons why the rink couldn't be built by this time next year.

The town is also waiting for an expression-of-interest document to be prepared for its next meeting. The purpose of the document is to see if anyone else is interested in building a rink in Rothesay.

Bishop said there will be few surprises in the 2009 budget. He said the numbers will closely resemble those from this year with transportation and protective services taking up approximately 48 per cent of the total budget. Protective services encompasses both police and fire funding, while transportation includes sidewalks, streets and snowplowing services, among others.

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll said some funds will be dedicated toward the Q-Plex in the upcoming budget. The Q-Plex is a recreation project that will house an ice surface with the mechanical infrastructure to twin it at a later date, an indoor walking track and an outdoor pool, among other features.

"The Q-Plex is a major project and some aspects are in this years budget, some lead in costs," Driscoll said.

The Quispamsis mayor listed architectural designs, planning and survey work as being budgeted for 2009.

The major funding portion of the project will be in the 2010 budget, Driscoll said. The estimated cost of the Q-Plex is approximately $22-million with $5.5-million in provincial and federal grants secured.

As for other items in the 2009 Quispamsis budget, the town is planning on expanding its water and sewer services.

"We're planning on expanding water next year and build on where we are with the water tower; expanding services down Hampton Road," Driscoll said.

Recreation will also receive a healthy amount of money. Driscoll estimated last years recreation budget was in excess of $2-million.

"We feel you invest in people and give them activities that provide a level of comfort that draws them in to the town," he said. "We're a growing community and one of the reasons is recreation."