An Okotoks town councillor wants the Town to go ahead with a proposal to build a baseball diamond and soccer field on a site east of the Seaman Stadium in partnership with the Okotoks Dawgs.
Coun. Matt Rockley made notice Monday afternoon he intends to introduce a motion asking for council ' s support for an outdoor baseball diamond and soccer field first proposed by the Dawgs last year. He is also asking administration to provide more information on construction costs and a necessary lease agreement with landowner Nexen Inc.
“ I put forward the notice of motion to keep this opportunity at the forefront, top of mind with council and administration to capitalize on the opportunity and work with the Okotoks Dawgs,” said Rockley.
The concept first arose in August when the Dawgs proposed to build a baseball diamond and soccer field near Seaman Stadium. Under the proposal, the Town would lease a 10-acre site owned by Nexen Inc. for 25 years. The sports fields would then be built on the site. The Dawgs committed between $750,000 and $1 million to build the baseball diamond and related facilities. Under a proposed agreement between the Town and the sports team, the Town would be responsible for extending municipal services to the site and constructing the soccer field.
Council put the issue on hold in the fall to look at other potential options for the site and the Town hasn ' t signed an agreement with Nexen Inc.
Rockley said a partnership between the Town and MD to look at a proposed field house using a P3 model in the Aldersyde area opens the door to move ahead with the proposed ball diamond.
“ It ' s certainly part of the puzzle,” he said. “ The agreement to partner with the MD of Foothills is certainly part of it.”
Rockley pointed out a number of other things in support of his motion, including a letter the MD sent the Town stating it would not support a jointly built indoor field house at the Nexen site and the fact location is in the flood fringe.
He also noted the Dawgs organization committed up to $1 million to build the baseball diamond.
“ I don ' t think that there ' s any good reason to let this opportunity pass us by,” said Rockley. “ The Okotoks Dawgs baseball club is willing to construct a great outdoor baseball diamond for the community.”
As well, he said a report showing other possible locations in Okotoks for an indoor field house indicated there were other possibilities besides the Nexen site.
He said the issue could come back to council at either its Jan. 24 or Feb. 14 meeting.
Rockley said he wants to discuss the proposal with the Town ' s culture, parks and recreation committee before any decision is made. The committee ' s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Mayor Bill Robertson said the Town ' s agreement with the MD does clear up some issues surrounding the proposal.
“ I believe it does, the door is partially open at this point,” he said.
However, Robertson said the Town ' s top recreation priority is an indoor field house.
“ We do have a baseball diamond and at this time we don ' t have an indoor field house,” he said.
While the Dawgs have committed $1 million, he said the Town would still have to spend between $400,000 to $500,000 on the soccer field and extending municipal services.
Dawgs general manager John Ircandia applauded Rockley ' s proposal, saying the move is promising.
“ If they ' re going to do the field house at another location, which makes sense given the funding challenges… . proceeding with the proposal we brought forward last year is logical,” he said.
If given the go ahead, Ircandia said the team would like to start construction this spring to have the field available for use by July.
“ I ' m hoping they adopt a proposal like that so we can get going with our planning and hiring of the various sub-trades,” he said.
