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Coun. Sara Inch was stunned and surprised by the turn of events at Tuesday’s council meeting. 

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It wasn’t just the vote that didn’t go her way that caught her off guard, rather it was the motion itself and comments from her fellow councillors. 

“Quite frankly I don’t know what happened this evening,” she told The Nugget after the meeting in council chambers. 

“I wrote a motion and I was told to withdraw it and it was rewritten and this was what was tabled and it was not rewritten by me.” 

Inch said she was also quite surprised by Coun. (Mac) Bain’s comments. 

“I thought we had a good enough relationship that he could have approached me.” 

The motion tabled by Inch and seconded by Coun. Jamie Lowery was to instruct city staff to investigate funding opportunities through the province’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund for cricket and pickleball facilities in the West Ferris area. 

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Bain said he was “baffled” with the motion and had hoped he “misunderstood or misread it.” 

He said some people believe he’s been around the table too long, but there’s plenty he’s proud of including the hiring of a gap officer to ensure the city and community agencies and not-for-profit groups do not miss out on funding opportunities. 

Bain told council he would not support the motion, because that work is already being done by city staff.

He said numerous examples can be attributed to the gap officer position, such as  the multi-use courts off Oak Street and the all-wheel pump track. 

“This resolution tells staff how to apply for grants. They don’t need to be told to look for funding. I would encourage council not to support this, work is already being done.” 

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Coun. Chris Mayne supported the motion. 

“There are new priorities than there were 16 years ago. Pickleball and cricket were not on our radar. I believe it’s reasonable to give council some direction to staff.” 

Coun. Mark King said he feels like the motion indicates council doesn’t trust staff. 

Lowery asked for a recorded vote. Lowery, Coun. Chris Mayne, Coun. Justine Mallah and Coun. Sara Inch supported the motion. 

Coun. Mac Bain, Coun. Mark King, Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield, Coun. Lana Mitchell and Mayor Peter Chirico voted against the motion. The motion was defeated. 

Coun. Tanya Vrebosch and Coun. Gary Gardiner were not in attendance. 

Coun. Lowery, who was visibly frustrated, spoke to three pickleball players as he left council chambers. 

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He told the trio that without a few counsellors pushing hard for a cricket pitch, players would have to wait several years to see the facility come to North Bay.

Inch said despite the vote she does believe council supports a cricket pitch.  

“Cricket and pickleball players have reached out and let me know they feel they’ve been left out of the planning. As a representative of the public I’m doing my job bringing those things forward,” Inch said. 

“If staff make all the decisions, why do we have 10 people sitting here?” 

Council agreed to consider a cricket pitch in the upcoming municipal budget deliberations. The potential site would be located at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex.

Cricket has been played in North Bay for approximately ten years. 

Several cricketball players have voiced their concern about the lack of facilities in the city and the opportunities being missed. 

Romy Ghumman of the North Bay Cricket Club told The Nugget during the April 2 council meeting the city is missing out on huge tourism dollars. 

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