Dunnottar questions rec concept

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By Roger Newman
Sunday February 22, 2004

Interlake Spectator — Despite misgivings by Coun. Margaret Ann Anderson, the Village of Dunnottar will continue to participate in discussions aimed at forming a joint recreation authority with the Town of Winnipeg Beach.
Anderson has questioned the wisdom of giving village money to an authority that will provide few if any programs or activities for Dunnottar summer residents.
Speaking at council’s recent February meeting, she said she understands that citizen-owned Matlock Community Club and the village’s summer swimming pier program will be ineligible for recreation authority funding.
“What is the advantage of giving money if we don’t know what we will get back?” she asked. “I don’t feel comfortable with this if seasonal residents are not going to be counted (by provincial funding agencies).”
Her council colleagues did not necessarily agree with her. Mayor Rick Gamble and Coun. Dave Johnson said that with the birth of the proposed authority, Dunnottar residents will have access to recreation programs at Winnipeg Beach and to facilities many of them already use.
“Everything at the beach will be available to us,” said Johnson, who added the village must “build stuff for our kids and grandchildren”.
Coun. Dorothy Kolbe thought the new recreation authority might fund soccer teams and help build soccer and baseball fields.
“We have to go ahead to get the answers,” Kolbe said.
On a similar note, Gamble said Dunnottar is making a “leap of faith” by participating in the current discussions.
“There are a lot of things still to be clarified,” the mayor said. “But if we don’t go ahead, we won’t get any money.”

He said council should make sure the recreation pact includes the Matlock Community Club. That suited Kolbe who said “kids are at the community club every day, looking for things to do.”
Gamble was a bit perturbed about the make-up of the authority’s board which will be comprised of two members of each council plus a representative of the Evergreen School Division. He said the school board could end up calling the shots whenever the two councils split 2-2 on an issue.
In spite of all the imponderables, council decided there will be ongoing discussions about the recreation authority.

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