Editor:
A myth that the Burns Lake Curling Club was or is costing us, the tax payers, large sums of money.
The Village of Burns Lake received a building over 40 years ago that was an A-1 shape, for no cost. This was done at the suggestion of the village because if it sat on village property it would be beneficial for insurance purposes that it be in the village property pool.
The cost was covered by the taxpayers and the village also provided snowplowing the parking lot, water, sewer and garbage services. The Eckland letter explains some of the upgrades to the facility - no cost to taxpayers.
When the new multiplex was built the curling club lost big time. We lost our fully contained kitchen with its own bathroom, we could prepare everything for our banquets in house. Lost the ladies bathroom downstairs, lost our lockers, where members could store their equipment and were left with a stairway to our lounge area that is very dangerous and would no way ever meet code anywhere. Our entrance is locked when we arrive on many occasions to curl and concession closed for spring break when we had a seniors bonspiel - six out of town teams participating.
This multi million dollar multiplex is less than three years old and with all the renovations that were done why weren't the two upstairs bathrooms done at the same time, in excess of $25,000 was just spent doing this.
Is this another of Alderman Illes justification for his costs to the village and the architects boondoggle.
The local merchants have been very generous to the curling club and we ran if for almost 60 years with mostly volunteers and didn't go hat in hand to the taxpayers.
We now rent everything - our annual dues have had to increase because of this.
These are my own observations.
Bob Saul,
Involved for 60 years