The Creighton Sportex is about to receive a boost following the Nov. 14 Creighton town council meeting.
Council members passed a motion to put down a 25 per cent deposit on a new brine pump for the facility.
“That will go into our 2019 budget and then we’ll purchase that fully. We put down the 25 per cent to hold the price,” said Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler.
The brine pump will replace the existing unit at the Sportex, which has not been changed since the arena was opened in 1978. The brine pump is a key component of the refrigeration unit that keeps the ice surface frozen. It pushes water and antifreeze agents through pipes in the concrete slab beneath the ice to maintain temperature.
Other changes to the Sportex site, including potential refurbishment of some areas, have been discussed on an informal level, but no further resolutions have been approved by council.
The town budgeted $20,000 for a feasibility study of the Sportex in the current fiscal year’s budget, released in May.
“We’re going to go and have a look at everything and make decisions after that,” said Fidler.
Town inspection
An inspection for properties in Creighton may be coming soon.
Officials from the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) are scheduled to present a delegation to council members at their next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 28.
Fidler said the officials are likely to present a plan to re-inspect all buildings within the town.
“They happen every three to five years, depending on them having enough staff to do them,” he said.
SAMA conducts assessment valuations for properties throughout Saskatchewan, providing a current measure for both the province and municipality to determine policies, including property taxes.
Fidler said the re-assessment would likely mean changes for some policies in Creighton, although it was still too early to tell what changes may be in store for residents.
Obstetrics
With obstetric care at Flin Flon General Hospital now suspended, Creighton town officials are determining how they can get involved and react to the situation.
Along with residents from nearby communities such as Denare Beach, Deschambault Lake, Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay, Creighton residents rely on the Flin Flon hospital as a key destination for medical care.
“It affects Saskatchewan residents as well. We’ve got to have some discussion around it and see where our efforts go and where we direct them to try and overcome this,” said Fidler.
“Right now, we haven’t decided anything yet, as it is a fresh, new thing that popped up. Most definitely, it is going to be one of our top priorities over the next little bit.”
