Ball diamond to find new home in Glebe Park


By Jenn Watt


The following are brief reports of items discussed at the Aug. 24 meeting of Dysart et al council.

After much discussion council is hoping to move the popular ball diamond to a new location in Glebe Park.

Located next to the Dysart municipal building the current diamond has issues with drainage and is no longer ideal.

Councillors were at one time considering relocating the diamond to an area out of town however public sentiment has been against that idea.

Fearrey believes more dialogue is needed with the Glebe Park committee about the proposal as the park makes the most sense due to its proximity to the village level surface and well lit area. If moved the diamond would be a similar size to the current facility.

“We need a diamond in town” said the reeve. “We don’t have other alternatives in town.”

Fearrey said that Glebe Park was originally sold to the municipality to be used for education and recreation purposes and he believes baseball fits into that.

Council still mulling over natural gas


Following a delegation made earlier this year by Northeast Midstream councillors are still mulling over entering into a proposal that might bring natural gas as an alternative energy resource to the area.

Representing the company John Wolnik proposed that the municipality enter into a franchise precedent agreement which would keep the wheels moving on the project and help assess whether it was feasible or not.

Wolnick said four other northern communities have signed an agreement including Marathon and Wawa and that support was needed from Dysart to enter into the next phase of development.

“Northeast must conduct various studies to assess the overall feasibility of providing gas service to your town: engineering marketing financial and economic studies” said Wolnik in his report to council. “These studies require significant time and expense to complete.”

Wolnik said ideally the company would have liked the agreement signed in July however could wait until September.

As the industry is heavily regulated it would likely be 2017 at the earliest that Dysart would be serviced by natural gas if all the approvals were met said Wolnik.

Council deferred the decision to their next meeting.

Power boat races to return


Following on the heels of the inaugural outboard powerboat races held this past weekend councillors agreed to have the event return to Head Lake next year.

The races were held over a two-day period and brought in 120 racers more than the 80 anticipated. As a result the event went later that expected on the Saturday evening.

Organizer Barb Hammond sent a request to council asking if the races could return next summer.

“Absolutely” said Councillor Derek Knowles.

Roberts said she did receive one complaint about the event however she also heard positive feedback from a downtown business.