New name, fresh start.
That’s the attitude the newly-established Cochrane Field Sport Association (formerly the Turf Association) is taking moving forward with what it hopes will be Alberta’s first full-sized soccer pitch in a dome right here in Cochrane.
Since last appearing before council in January, Field Sport has made several strides toward constructing a domed turf field in Cochrane, including developing a detailed design review, financial modeling, visiting domed facilities around Canada and, perhaps the biggest hurdle for the association, trying to nail down a location in Cochrane.
Kevin Shier of Field Sport outlined a cost estimate for a domed field in Cochrane, which included $755,000-$847,000 for a dome, $300,000 for a concrete beam, $400,000 for turf, a $100,000 shock pad and a 10 per cent contingency of $155,000. The grand total being in the range of $1.7 to $1.8 million.
Shier was before council April 28, not only to provide information on the hopeful project, but to request $25,000 to conduct geotech testing on possible sites for the field.
“It’s far better to find out what’s under the ground now than to find out later on,” said Shier.
Council approved the funding to Field Sport.
Mayor Ivan Brooker said he was on the side of the project, and they just needed to establish a location.
Shier said they had three sites in mind, but would not disclose where at this time. He also said Field Sport would return to council in the future with precise cost estimates for the project, and that the field would take approximately three months to construct.
Shier indicated that Field Sport estimated the facility could garner around $93,000 in net revenue each year it operates.
Two acres of land is required to build the field, but Shier said the association would jump at the chance to nail down a six acre site, which would enable them to expand by constructing a second domed field and an outdoor field — a ‘sport village’ Shier called it.
It is estimated that somewhere in the area of 1,700 people playing three different sports would utilize a domed field in Cochrane; Calgary soccer and rugby groups have also expressed interest.
Following the Town of Cochrane’s 2013 audit, the books are looking good with a budget surplus of $824,648 for the year.
Paige Milner, senior manager of corporate services for the town, said, “We are in a good financial position,” and that Cochrane had ‘huge’ capital assets added to its portfolio in 2013.
Of the over $800,000 budget surplus, council approved $672,877 to be transferred the facility lifecycling capital reserve, while the remaining $151,771 was put into a fire fleet capital reserve, as the funds were a result of the fire tax operating surplus.
The fire reserve is to be used for a fire truck replacement in 2015; the transfer brings the reserve total to $203,688.
Some other highlights of the town’s financial position include: an additional $441,000 in planning revenue due to strong building and development activity; water revenue exceeded budget expectations by $476,000 due to higher residential growth and bulk water sales; and franchise fees were $108,655 higher than projected.
“That’s really impressive.”
The words of Mayor Brooker were echoed by all members of council after hearing a presentation by a group of high school students outlining their engineering/biology project that they will compete with at the 2014 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
CoBRA, however, is still in need of $5,000 to enable them to attend the competition.
Council explored the possibility of the group applying for at town grant, but given the timeframe needed for grant monies to be distributed, the funds would arrive too late for the students’ June trip to the U.S.
CoBRA’s project aims to genetically engineer a common strain of E. coli in order to synthesize a protein that would result in the degeneration of the blue stain fungus and pine beetle in the forests of Western Canada.
Santa is coming...this December.
Former Cochrane councillor Ivan Davies and the brains behind the new festive idea Mick Gee were on hand to present their plans for a Santa Claus parade this coming Dec. 13.
“It’s another great community event that would last for years,” said Davies, “because we’re setting it up that way.”
The parade is expected to have 30 floats and run from the old IGA, down 1st Street to Frank Wills Memorial Hall. Those looking to sponsor the event can do so with donation ranging from $500-$1,500.
