Boundary baseball fans will get a bonus this year, as Grand Forks hosts two major tournaments instead of one.
The Grand Forks International will go ahead as usual at James Donaldson Park from June 21 to 28, and then the BC men’s provincials will be held from July 30 to Aug. 3.
Organizers expect six to eight teams at provincials and say the level of competition should be similar to the GFI.
City council passed a motion of support for both tournaments Monday, but first discussed the value of the city’s in-kind contribution and how best it could be accounted for.
Councillor Deborah Lafleur said the city’s help is worth “not an insignificant amount of money” and wondered if the city should instead use a fee-for-service model. She said that would make the costs more obvious. “If it were fee-for-service, you can see what we are giving,” she said.
Councillor Zak Eburne-Stoodley agreed cutting a cheque would be “black and white,” whereas counting staff time “gets very gray, very muddy, very fast,” because while the city provides some event-specific tasks, other work amounts to general maintenance of the ballpark that would take place anyway.
Councillor Rod Zielinksi said he would like to see the outcome of a recreational study, due soon, which he hopes will clarify the value of recreation in the community. Councillor Christine Thompson said given the expected economic benefits to the community, she had no problem supporting both tournaments.
City manager Duncan Redfearn said he has spoken to the public works department, which estimates the services the city will provide for the baseball provincials could run as much as $5,000 in overtime because a statutory holiday is involved. However, the department has assured him they can make it work.
“Ultimately, we will not be doing something else,” Redfearn said. “We’re not adding people or resources. We will reduce efforts in one area to accommodate this.”
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