No reserved parking for Igloo staff

Bowden town council has effectively turned down a request to reserve a parking spot at the front of the Igloo for arena staff.

A motion passed by council does not officially say “no” to the proposal. Instead, council voted to receive the request “for information only.”

The request was presented to council by James Mason, the town's chief administrative officer.

“It would be convenient to have a parking spot dedicated for use by arena staff next to one of the handicapped spots,” Mason wrote in a request for decision, presented during council's Sept. 12 meeting.

“It could also be used for deliveries or services needed to be brought in the front entry,” he added.

“Are you kidding me? The public needs to park at the front door – young single moms or single dads – whatever – with their children, coming to the rink. They need to park as close to the door as they can. The handicapped needs at least two stalls,” Coun. Wayne Milaney said as the matter came up for deliberation.

“Grandmas and grandpas and young moms toting bags and young – you know – six-, seven-year-olds with great big goalie bags, they should have priority for the front door,” he added.

“I think we should be convenient to the people who are paying the bills – the people are coming in and renting our place,” Coun. Lloyd Lane said.

Milaney said staff can actually get into the rink faster by parking in the back and going through the room that houses the ice resurfacer.

It was pointed out that there are no plug-ins for vehicles in the front but there are at the back of the building.

As for deliveries, councillors Sandy Gamble and Sheila Church said they can be brought in through a side door on the east side of the arena.

“All that we're saying is we're turning down your request,” Coun. Earl Wilson said after making the motion.

Mason said he got that.

“Yeah basically, it's no action is what it is; leave it as status quo,” he said.

Coun. Gamble said the parking lot is not very big to begin with and becomes that much more crowded as buses pull in and those utilizing the building come in and out.

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