Recreation facilities came away the big winners in this year's Woodstock Capital Budget. City Council finalized their new spending budget for 2013-2017. They approved $25,000 to add accessible washrooms at the Community Complex and Sea Cadet Building. And $41,300 is being added to upgrade Tip O'Neill Ball Field (photo right). President of Woodstock Minor Baseball, Brent Peltola talks about what improvements will be made to Woodstock's only hardball diamond. "A clay infield, improved lighting, and looking at both extending the dugout areas and the foul territory fences at the diamond. It's pretty much a complete overhaul. Right now, the playing surface at Tip O'Neill is a crushed stone surface. While it drains very well, it's not the best surface to play on...clay surface is much safer." The city could recoup that money if they are successful with FedDev grant applications. While baseball and recreation won, the Woodstock Fire Department came away from as the losers from the Capital Budget. Council turned down a number of items including a fire training simulator, new truck leases, workout equipment, and an Emergency Site Management Apparatus. The need for the Apparatus arose during the Victoria St. explosion (photo right), when the city had to borrow one from Waterloo to allow officials a command post to work from near the site of the emergency. While they were wants for the new year on the wish list of Fire Chief Scott Tegler, he says it wasn't a surprise council turned them down. "I know council is taking a closer look at the cost to run the fire department. We're going through an efficiency study, and I think they want to wait for those reports to come back in 2013." A complete review of the Woodstock Fire Department will begin in the New Year and should take about 6-months to complete.
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