A recent city council decision should come as a relief to young Salmon Arm soccer players.
At its April 8 meeting, council received a written request from Shuswap Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) operations manager Chad Forman for washroom options at the downtown (Safeway) soccer fields.
“With the closure of the Indoor Memorial Sports Complex, the Downtown (Safeway) Fields no longer have washrooms available to its users,” said Forman noting the fields will host 300-plus people, most between the ages of five and 10, four days per week this spring.
Forman suggested that portable toilets or a portable restroom trailer be installed at the field from mid-April to the end of June (or until the sports complex reopens).
“The City of Salmon Arm’s other facilities currently do not have the capacity to accommodate these programs, so finding a solution for this location is the only option,” added Forman.
City administrator Erin Jackson confirmed SYSA is looking to the city to provide the washrooms and cover the related costs.
Council agreed something needs to be done. Coun. Sylvia Lindgren suggested looking into a partnership with the nearby Downtown Activity Centre. That was not among the options looked at by city staff.
Darin Gerow, city manager of roads and parks, went over options staff did look at, including the placement of secured porta potties, which would cost about $7,000 for the season. Other options include an Atco-style washroom trailer, which would cost $6,900 per month (about $63,500 to purchase), and installing a concrete washroom like those at McGuire Lake and the Foreshore trail, which would cost around $30,000.
Gerow suggested the Downtown Activity Centre could also be a good option.
Coun. Tim Lavery tabled a motion to go with the temporary porta potty option.
“I do think that given the current status of the… infrastructure we have , we owe it to the residents and the users,” said Lavery. “There’s nothing more exhilarating and reassuring then to see our sports fields full of kids and their families playing soccer. I think this is a one-shot thing and I think that we need to step up to do this.”
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he supported the porta potty option, unless an alternative can be worked out.
“This is a sudden need and this is a temporary solution, but it is a solution so (I) really appreciate staff coming forward with a number of options for council,” said Mayor Alan Harrison. “While all of them have an expense… this is probably the most economical unless something else can be solved. We need to put our minds ahead, forward, not just here but other areas that may need washrooms on a more permanent basis.”
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