A rural Director is adding her feelings about the regional recreation dispute with Nelson.
Area E’s Ramona Faust is joining Tom Newell -the new Director in Area F – in criticizing the Queen City’s tactics.
Nelson recently withdrew a large grant as a condition to signing off on the aquatic centre renovations at the NDCC.
The mayor has said it was done to prompt the “tough discussions” needed on finding a new shared funding model.
Nelson’s move means more taxes for everyone on shared recreation.
Faust says she supports Newell’s call to have the current situation addressed or reversed.
She says she stands by her original decision in January – as Chair of the Rec Commission – to approve the late move by Nelson because she did not want to jeopardize the renovation project.
Nelson argues it’s paying too much as part of the shared recreation funding and wants a more equitable deal.
Faust says not enough attention is focused on all the areas in which the rural neighbors contribute to initiatives in Nelson like ongoing operation of the soccer fields, funding the hospital and their backing for the library referendum.