Storage Room Debate Not Simmering; Council Says There Will Be No Move Right Now

The Dryden Minor Ball Association won’t be vacating their storage space at the Arena after all.
Council decided Monday night to go against a decision of Chief Administrative Officer Andre Larabie to transform the room into a medical room for Arena user groups.
Larabie says the change was an operational decision on his part and was done in the best interest of safety.
He stresses he was able to secure a new site for the Association at the Public Works building.
He admits the issue ballooned out of control when a member of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs removed the Association sign prematurely.
Outcry to the decision to have the City take ownership of the storage room quickly spilled over to social media and it apparently gained the sympathy of some Councillors.
One against the move was Mary Trist.
Trist says a medical room on the second floor doesn’t make sense and she also questioned if all user groups were consulted on the change.
Trist adds Minor Ball and Minor Hockey raised money for the upstairs room and they should have been consulted when the issue was first raised.
She says staff say the medical room would be for all user groups but she challengers other groups don’t have medical personnel.
Roger Valley didn’t approve the move, stressing the Ball Association should have time to address Council.
Mayor Craig Nuttall and Ken Moss were disappointed with the decision and Nuttall says it should be a priority that they have top notch facilities in Dryden.
Nuttall believes the issue has become political and the health of area youth is being overlooked.
Moss says Andre Larabie made an operational decision and Council should respect that.
A group representing various user groups attended the Monday night Council meeting to hear debate on the issue.