Cost hurdles overcome to clear bleacher build

Following an in camera discussion at Clearview Township council on April 13, an agreement has been reached to permit work to proceed on the bleachers at Gowan Memorial Park in Creemore.

When local builder Gord Zeggil, of Mountain Ridge Custom Homes, first heard about a campaign to rebuild the bleachers he stepped up and volunteered. With a fundraising commitment from local resident Zak Hayward to cover the cost of materials, Zeggil offered to deliver a bleacher project worth roughly $125,000 to the municipality at no cost.

Things became complicated when the township asked Zeggil to assume the cost of permits, provide insurance for the project, and post a security deposit. He became frustrated saying, “I’m committed to my community and this project but the requirements, liability and costs to volunteer are unfair to our community, myself and my company to assume.”

Council has since decided that the township will absorb permit costs, and Zeggil’s company will not be required to post a deposit.

The township had initially earmarked $10,000 to replace the old bleachers made of wood and cinderblocks with low-profile aluminum bleachers but a petition circulated by Hayward asking for the character of the ball park to be preserve garnered more than 500 signatures.

The original $10,000 allocation will be redirected to the new wooden bleachers with fundraising and donated labour to cover the balance of approximately $115,000.

The old wooden bleachers were demolished last fall. Zeggil says the site is staked and ready to go, as soon as permits are issued.