City may go it alone rather than wait for province on Dakota Collegiate field funding

A Winnipeg councillor hopes to cut some strings attached to funds promised years ago by the city to help build a new fieldat Dakota Collegiate this summer.

Coun. BrianMayes(St. Vital) wants to free up $1 million in city funds promised in 2015 for the field's construction so teams can play on home turf this coming September.

But $600,000 of that money was originally intended to match a spending promise made by the previous NDP government a promisethe governing Progressive Conservatives have put on holdindefinitely.

Mayes presented the proposal to free up the city's funds and cut any link to what the province does at last week's executive policy committee meeting. After feedback from other councillors, he asked city staff to put together a report on the issue. Council is set to vote on his motion next month.

Waiting for some green

In 2015, the city promised up to $600,000 to match any funds raised, whether from government or a private donor,for the new outdoor sports area.

"The province then came in under the former government and said, 'We're good for $1 million,'"Mayes said.

Spurred by the province's commitment, the city found another $350,000 to add to the project and Mayes contributed another $50,000 from his ward budget, bringing the grand total of public money raisedfor the field to $2 million.

Now, the province may cancel the NDP's $1 million commitment, and even though the initial $600,000 from the city was originally intended to match funding from any source,thatputs the city's grant somewhat up in the air, said Mayes.

"This money was approved in 2015 with some strings attached," he said. "We need to simplify it to get the strings off or this whole thing may collapse."

The new provincial government under Premier Brian Pallister put nearly all NDP spending promises on hold until reviews can be completed. With regards to the Dakota Collegiate field, aspokesperson for Education Minister IanWisharttold CBC the department "is evaluating the proposal along with other school-based infrastructure projects."

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But football and soccer teams at Dakota Collegiate can't wait that much longer. To have the field finished by September, the school must begin to put the project out to tender soon and break ground in a matter of months.

If Mayes'plan goes forward as proposed next month, the school will have the city's guaranteed $1 million not enough to put down artificial turf as planned, but at least enough to lay down new sod and installlights and a new scoreboard.

"I'm not blaming the province on this. I just want to get the field built," said Mayes.

The money earmarked for the playing field by Winnipeg in 2015 has to be used this year or else it's gone, the councillor noted.

"I want this to be supported by my colleagues. I don't want to have to ram it through But I would hate to see all the money lost because we're dithering at this end."

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