Sport North Bay has reached out North Bay City Council candidates for some feedback on issues related to sport in the city of North Bay.
They asked the candidates to answer some questions - nine in total - and allowed them to add comments/concerns on the topic, with sports facilities as a major part of the poll.
The candidates were asked to rank various sports concerns from 1 to 5, with 1 being low importance and 5 being high importance.
See related: Sport North Bay polls city council candidates - Part 1
See related: Sport North Bay polls city council candidates - Part 2
See related: Sport North Bay Poll Part 3 - Shogren, King and Cadotte give their sports priorities
In the fourth and final candidate survey incumbent George Maroosis, Neal McNamara, Arlene Phillips and Ed Valenti express their sport opinions.
Maroosis gave 5 rankings to five different categories including access to youth sport programs, a combined dual pad and multi-purpose facility, change rooms at Omischl, reducing rental costs for fields and arenas for youth sports, and value of sport and wellness to North Bay.
He gave a 3 ranking to Financing a program coordinator for youth sports, dual pad arena, marina dock, and bike lanes.
Maroosis believes bike lanes should be put in on both Lakeshore Drive and Trout Lake Road.
“They should be on joint use, with sidewalks on the one side,” said Maroosis.
Neal McNamara ranked access to youth sport programs and value of sport and wellness to North Bay at 5.
He ranked change rooms at Steve Omischl Sports Complex at 4.
He ranked a combined dual pad arena and multi-use facility, biking lanes, dual pad arena, financing a program coordinator for youth sports, marina dock, reducing rental costs for fields and arenas for youth sports, at 3.
“There has been a lot of talk relating to the replacement of West Ferris arena,” said McNamara.
“I am for keeping any future arena in West Ferris and found the North Bay Mall proposal interesting, although I do not have the details behind it or the financing involved so we would need to review more thoroughly before being able to provide an informed opinion or decision on the matter,” he continued.
McNamara also notes that he fully supports keeping the marina dock.
“I am for repairing and keeping this asset in our community, not replacing it with a $20 million plus naturalized spit as detailed in the downtown waterfront master plan which itself is estimated to cost between $50 and $80 million without providing an tangible benefit or jobs to our community, just a whole bunch more debt.”
Arlene Phillips rankings varied.
She ranked financing a program coordinator for youth sports and dual pad arena a 1.
Phillips ranked change rooms at Steve Omischl Sports Complex at 2.
A combined dual pad arena and multi-use facility was ranked at 3.
She had reducing rental fees for fields and arenas for youth sports, value of sport and wellness to North Bay, and bike lanes at 4.
Phillips only 5 ranking went to access to youth sport programs.
Ed Valenti rated access to youth sport programs, value of sport and wellness to North Bay, and change rooms at Omischl at a 5 ranking.
Valenti has bike lanes, dual pad arena, and reducing rental fees for fields and arenas for youth sports are ranked at 4.
He has a combined dual pad arena and multi purpose facility, financing a program coordinator for youth sports, and marina dock are ranked 3.
The municipal election takes place on October 22nd.
