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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 21, 2008 - 5 New soccer complex would be a double win By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Town of Oakville could be joining forces with the Oakville Soccer Club (OSC) in a partnership that would see the Town loan the club $12 million for a new indoor soccer facility. On Tuesday, Oakville's Community Services Committee unanimously recommended the Town enter into discussions with the OSC concerning the development of the new soccer complex in Pine Glen Park, located on the southeast corner of Pine Glen Road and Third Line. The recommendation will be voted on by Town Council on May 5 The partnership was prompted when the OSC's indoor soccer program, which currently services around 2,000 children, was dealt a severe blow. The indoor facility the club currently uses for its fall and winter seasons was recently sold to new owners, who are not in the indoor recreation business. The sale means the OSC has no indoor soccer facility for its 2008/2009 indoor season and beyond, which is why the partnership with the Town is such a lifesaver. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the Town of Oakville and the club to create a really great facility for the community," said Ashley Langford, OSC board member. "We don't have a facility for indoor soccer for the coming year, but we're hopeful by doing this, even though we won't have an indoor program for the coming fall, we will be back in operation by January to provide this important community recreation service for the Town of Oakville." Details have yet to be hammered out, but one aspect of the proposed partnership would see the Town provide the OSC with a loan of up to $12 million to cover costs of the facility's development. The Town would expect repayment of this loan in no more than 20 years. Since the OSC has yet to submit a business plan outlining exactly what components will be present in the building, it is not known exactly how much the facility will cost to build. The current proposal, however, includes a full-size senior soccer field, which is estimated to cost between $11 and $13 million. "If we do it this way, the costs will be considerably less than if we, as a club, tried to do this on our own and borrow the money and buy the land and build a building. It's just a win-win situation." Ashley Langford, Oakville Soccer Club (OSC) board member have received no 2009 winter revenue. In the end, the committee voted to approve the partnership and move the project forward. Before voting, the committee received assurances from staff that the project could still be halted if it was found that the OSC did not have the resources to pay back the loan, or if any other insurmountable complications should arise. The Indian food Oakville has bee waiting for... Under the principles of the partnership spelled out in a staff report, the Town would retain ownership of the building, while the OSC would be responsible for daily operation and maintenance of the facility. The Town would also be able to use the facility for municipal events, meetings and other community uses -- and would be responsible for major architectural, structural and electrical components of the building. This concept of the OSC paying for the facility, but the Town owning it, did not bother Langford. "If we do it this way, the costs will be considerably less than if we as a club tried to do this on our own and borrow the money and buy land and build a building," he said. "It's just a win-win situation." Committee members did express concerns the proposed timetable for completion would not permit sufficient public consultation meetings. These concerns were eased somewhat by both Town staff and members of the OSC, who noted that public consultations could be scheduled. "We are not trying to push anything down anyone's throat," said Jean Gandubert, OSC's Chief Administrative Officer. "The success of Oakville is our success and we welcome public consultations. Having said that we have timelines we need to keep to." Gandubert went on to point out that any delay could seriously damage the project with the worst-case scenario for the OSC being that the facility would not open until next spring. In that situation the construction costs would have been paid, but the OSC would Real Indian food served the real Indian way... TAKE OUT & DELIVERY MENU MEAL DEAL FOR 2 2 Veg Samosas g Butter Chicken Lamb Curry y Dal Makhani Basmati Rice 2 Naans Violent barbershop beating Halton police are investigating a violent robbery at an Oakville barber shop. Shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday, March 7, a trio of men brandishing baseball bats entered Urban Barbers at 125 North Service Rd. One man approached the lone barber and demanded cash. While attempting to flee the store, the victim was assaulted by the suspects who struck him with the bats. Fortunately, the victim received only minor injuries and was able to escape. The suspects then unsuccessfully tried to steal the cash register. They were last seen fleeing eastbound on North Service Road in a newer model, four-door, dark coloured car, possibly a Volkswagen Jetta. All three suspects are between 17 and 20 years old and wore dark, baggy clothes. The first is described as Asian, 5-foot-7, with a heavy build and short dark hair. The second suspect is black, 5-foot-9, of average build with short dark hair. He was wearing a ski mask. The third suspect is described as Asian, 5-foot-9, of average build, with shoulder-length, braided hair and was wearing a balaclava. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any other matter, you may be eligible for a cash reward. You will never have to give your name or testify in court. 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