Quinte West Amateur Baseball Association president Chris Lisle make a delegation to council on Monday March 6, 2017. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
The president of the Quinte West Baseball Association said he is shaking his head in disbelief after a mix up over the cost of field lights has forced more delays causing the Quinte Royals to cancel hosting a provincial championship.
On Monday, Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo pulled and deferred a parks and open space report pending further investigation. The report shows the Bayshore Field lighting project will jump by $250,000 from the original cost estimate of $421,000 due to a need for upgrades to the power supply and a Geo Tech report. Staff recommended an additional $250,000 be pulled from capital reserves to pay for the increase.
Director Angelo who just returned from holidays said he’s not comfortable with the recommendation and he has some questions that need answers. For example he needs to determine where the City will get its power from and what the additional cost might be. He said then another report will come back to council.
Angelo said staff met with the Quinte Royals and the Quinte West soccer club last week to explain what the delay could potentially amount to.
He said he will meet again with staff this week and then give the clubs a more accurate timeline.
Two years ago when the field was built QWBA president Chris Lisle was assured there would be lighting for the 2017 season.. Then when the field lights project was denied a grant there has been uncertainty among the baseball world as to whether council will make the purchase for this season. During March budget deliberations, council found the funds needed and expedited the purchase so the lights would be ready for August allowing the Royals to make a bid for the provincial championship.
Director Angelo confirmed that at this point and time the lights and poles have been ordered with the installation contract awarded to Leighton Electric. Angelo said if there are any further delays from the August timeline, he projects it could be September or October before the lights are in service.
“It’s embarrassing,” QWBA president Chris Lisle wrote Quinte News following the meeting. “The issue about the need for more hydro in the park was never brought up during any meetings or budget deliberations. I don’t know who dropped the ball but the point I want to make is that the increase in cost for increasing hydro in the park is not being caused solely by baseball but instead because of all of the proposed improvements to facilities in Centennial Park, which baseball is a part of as is soccer as is the arena, as is future trail lighting..etc. To paint baseball as being the culprit for increased cost is not fair. Who is losing out when the dust all settles is the kids. In our case, hosting the championships which have been scheduled. The whole area is shaking their heads.”
