SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
By a vote of 5-2 city council on Monday approved the redesignation of the 23.5 acre old rodeo grounds from public recreation and open space to public and quasi-public service to allow for the construction of a new school.
Councillors Marissa Wardrop and Mohammed Idriss voted against the redesignation.
During the standing room only public hearing 20 people spoke in favour of the motion and two were neither for or against but both said they were concerned with the location in relation to the truck route and the rail line. The city also received 87 letters from residents stating they were in favour. The letters were not provided to the public.
Those who spoke in favour of the motion at the meeting were Christ the Redeemer school board members, its associate superintendent, superintendent as well as current students, current and former staff members and parents who all noted that the current schools are overcrowded and a new school would allow space indoors as well as outdoor recreation areas.
The majority of the speakers noted the urgency in the construction stating if the city did not redesignate the land they could lose access to some of the $8.6 billion in school funding that was announced by the province in September.
Christ the Redeemer associate superintendent Michael Kilcommons spoke on the urgency of the decision.
“There are several reasons why we do see this site as optimal. By far the most important, number one on our priority list is related to the urgency of time and money,” he said.
He also said it’s the only site the city owns and it is ready for construction and at 23-plus acres there will be room for onsite parking and proper bus routes, sports and playing fields and potentially other partner services.
“A plan to build a new facility or facilities, if our dream can come true, would be a tremendous boon to the city and its economy,” he said.
He acknowledged that it is a route for trucks and machinery which would have an added traffic impact of 20-30 minutes each morning and afternoon.
Richard Young, who is in favour of a new school but not in the location said , “We are on the verge of a major wreck … The last thing I think you guys want to be involved with right now is sticking a school of this magnitude in an area that I would call a kill zone.”
