The location of the proposed rugby/soccer pitch could come down to one councillor after a tie vote left the decision in limbo last week.

Council voted on two motions at the June 28 meeting. The first was to locate the field at City Park. The second was to locate it at Dick Bartlett Park. Both motions ended in a tie with councillors Michael Wirischagin, Cher Wyers and Gene Robert voting for City Park and Mayor Brian Taylor and councillors Joy Davies and Christine Thompson favouring Dick Bartlett Park. Coun. Chris Moslin was absent. Taylor said he would consider bringing the vote back at the next meeting on July 19 if all seven members are present. If he doesn’t bring it back within 30 days, council will have to wait six months to vote on it again.

City staff has estimated the cost of the City Park location to be $25,000 and the cost of the Dick Bartlett Park location to be $8,000.

Two local residents spoke in favour of the City Park location at the meeting.

Todd Benson, president of the Grand Forks Boundary Wanderers Rugby Club, said the club has looked at both locations and would prefer if the field were located at City Park.

“Dick Bartlett, at first look, would meet all of our needs and come together in a more timely manner,” he said. “After further research we found that that park is pretty much completely booked by softball and baseball. Grand Forks loves baseball and we don’t want to take anything away from that.”

Clint Faulkner, also a member of the rugby club, said the club is hoping to host tournaments.

“It’s a fantastic location,” he said. “It has everything. It would highlight our town.”

Wirischagin said the field would give children an opportunity to play soccer and rugby on a field specifically designed for those sports.

“These are big sports and we should give our children the opportunity to play the sports that they so choose, and give them the facilities necessary to play these sports,” he said.

Wirischagin also said the fully-booked schedule at Dick Bartlett would create conflicts.

“We would be making another problem,” he said. “We wouldn’t be solving anything.”

Thompson said that although the fields at Dick Bartlett Park were booked, they are booked before the clubs know how many children will be playing, so often they are not in use.

As well, she said she preferred Dick Bartlett due to the cost savings, the necessity of moving trees and a telephone pole, possible conflict with overflow tent camping and opposition from some members of the Seniors’ Hall.

Davies also said she was opposed to the City Park location.

“Forty-nine per cent of our population is seniors-based and this is becoming such a high activity level that it would certainly deter seniors who are sensitive to walking and going into the park,” she said. “By having it in another location it accomplishes all our needs.”

Wyers said she supported the City Park as it would be an added attraction to bring people to the downtown, and soccer is growing in popularity.

Robert agreed.

“It’s good for business,” he said. “It’s economic development.”

Taylor said he was opposed to the City Park location because it would affect senior citizens’ enjoyment of the park.

“I am heavily influenced by a group of seniors that did approach me and asked me to save the nature of the park as a quieter place to contemplate life and wander around in a peaceful setting.”