November 2, 2011
Town hears energy,
soccer pitches
by Vance Gutzman
Deep River's second "Stand Up And Be Heard" session went from a sales
pitch to a soccer pitch.
Billed as a forum through which residents can bring forward ideas or
concerns to town council in an relatively informal venue, the first
such session was held in August, with four delegations making
presentations to council.
October's session featured two delegations, the first of which was
local resident Robert Cherrin, who made the plug that the company he
was representing, Innovative Solutions Inc, could save the town a pile
of money on its lighting costs.
"We research the latest technologies from around the world and study
them at Durham College," Cherrin said of the work his company does.
Among those latest technologies, Cherrin said, were computerized bulbs
for street lamps can be lowered from 150 to 72.5 watts.
"That would save a lot of money for Deep River's coffers," Cherrin
said, noting that the bulbs come with a five-year warranty.
"I can reduce peak power in every bulb in this town from a
laptop."
The town wouldn't have to expend any major funds on capital outlays for
the new bulbs, according to Cherrin.
"What ever budget you have now, that's what you'd pay us," he said.
"You'll save money by cutting per diems to Hydro (One)."
And while the streetlight bulbs themselves can be monitored by way of
computer, so too could other components of the town's infrastructure,
Cherrin claimed, such as pumps and motors at the sewage treatment plant.
Mayor David Thompson, in noting that energy costs do account for a
large portion of the town's budget each year (the results an energy
audit will be presented to council in the coming months), also asked
Cherrin for references from municipalities the firm he is representing
has done work for.
"Well, we're really in Toronto right now - they're the biggest city in
Canada," Cherrin pointed out, adding that his company is in talks with
a number of municipalities in Renfrew County, including Laurentian
Hills which, according to Cherrin, has already put it in the budget for
next year.
Pressing Cherrin for more specifics, Councillor Ruth Syme asked him for
the names of communities that have been using his company's services
for at least one year.
Cherrin said he would provide the town with such a list, while
stressing one more time how efficiently his firm could help light up
the town.
"We ask for no capital outlays. The only thing that's going to change
is your savings on hydro and you'll get a government grant," he said.
"I can get trucks up here tomorrow. That's not a problem."
Soccer expansion
Next up on the agenda was Alain Douchant, president of the Deep River
and Area Minor Soccer Club (DRAMSC), who made a pitch for a new soccer
pitch, saying the club is rapidly outgrowing the existing two pitches
at Grouse Park.
"The soccer club has had a tremendous increase in membership," Douchant
told council members, pointing out that more than 350 participants were
enrolled on more than 40 teams this past summer.
"We're having challenges organizing the games, practices and
tournaments with just two fields."
Douchant was proposing that the town either add another soccer pitch at
Grouse Park, or add lights to the existing two, in order that that play
and practice sessions could take place in the evening hours.
And Douchant took pains to stress that the DRAMSC would not be
expecting the town to foot the ball... er, bill, on its own.
"The club is prepared to contribute whatever it can to mitigate the
costs," Douchant assured council members.
Douchant was questioned as to the possibility of using other venues in
town, such as Bill Rounding Park, which was pressed into service this
past summer to handle the overflow from the club's U-10 program.
While thankful that the town let the town use that park, Douchant said
the terrain isn't ideal for the game.
"It's a very un-level field," he said.
"We're concerned the children will possibly injure themselves."
Douchant was also asked whether the DRAMSC would be interested in
availing itself of the soccer pitches at the Mackenzie campus, and he
was more enthusiastic towards that idea.
"I think the town should take ownership of them," he said.
"It's a waste having the school board look after them."
Douchant said the soccer club has fielded the idea of playing on those
pitches to the school board in the past, but failed to get a response,
to which Councillor Terry Myers suggested the town could possibly come
to an agreement with the board to use the pitches without necessarily
buying them.
"Even just to see the kids playing there would bring something to the
town," Douchant enthused.
In the event a third pitch is built at Grouse Park, meanwhile, Douchant
said the cost of the project could be as high as $100,000, due to the
need to clear trees and install an irrigation system, among other
things - to which Mayor Thompson appreciated his earlier offer that
club would pitch in on the costs.
"We're subsidizing it 80 percent, and I'm not sure that's sustainable,"
said Thompson, who pointed out that Grouse Park cost the town $33,000
to maintain last year, while bringing in $6,000 in revenues to the
municipal coffers.
"There may be a call to you and your members to help finance."
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