Why Superior Heights' neighbours flattened the dome

"Don’t say you can’t fight city hall or be a catalyst for change," Patti Jennings was saying last night.

"Tonight at city hall, with the support of four of my neighbours, we were successful in having the motion for the city to file an application on behalf of the Algoma District School Board to secure provincial funding to purchase and erect an inflatable dome over the Superior Heights sports complex withdrawn. Not even voted on," Jennings wrote on social media.

"Look at the pictures of land behind my home and tell me how and where you think the structure could have been built.  

"They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Too bad the councillors hadn’t inspected the property in person.

"So now there will be no gigantic 50-foot-tall marshmallow built behind my home," Jennings said.

The school board had wanted to apply to Ontario's Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund for financial help in building a dome over the artificial turf field at Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School, plus a new rubberized track.

But ADSB isn't eligible to apply directly, so city council was asked to make the application with no financial commitment from the city.

The project would have cost $2.5 million.

It also would have towered over neighbouring homes.

Ward 3 Coun. Angela Caputo, who was listed as mover of the motion, unexpectedly withdrew her name.

No other seconder could be found so the proposal for municipal assistance collapsed. 

"This is not about not in my backyard. This is about not in our backyards, because the damn thing doesn't fit into the property," Jennings said during her presentation to city council.

"I want to thank SooToday for bringing this issue to the public, or this would have, in all likelihood, been a rubber-stamped endorsement by the mayor and council."

Jennings has lived on nearby Superior Drive for more than 46 years.

She ran for mayor, unsuccessfully, in 2003.

"When the work was performed at that school property, I myself suffered over $25,000 in damages to my home, my in-ground pool and the land, which took me close to four years to secure reimbursement after having to sue the school board, the city, Bondfield the general contractor and every contractor and subcontractors.

"I'm not prepared to endure any more damages or headache with another construction project on that property,," Jennings told council.

"I'm not prepared to have an industrial structure erected in ny backyard that will, in all likelihood, have to be about 50 feet high by a 450-foot length and 195 feet wide just to cover the football playing field.

"My neighbors do not want this either. Another concern is the noise level of the necessary generators or fans that will be required to run 24/7 and 365 days a year.

"As neighbours to the school, we have adjusted to the extensive noise, people and loud music, and deal with the floodlights, both early morning and late into the evening – however the continual noise of blowers, fans and generators that will reverberate through the clay ground is not something any homeowner should have to deal with."

Jennings had been told she had three minutes to speak.

After three minutes and 26 seconds, Mayor Shoemaker attempted to advise her that her time was up but Jennings ignored him, continuing for more than a minute, often speaking at the same time as the mayor.

Here, from Jennings' prepared speech, is what she would have said had she not been cut off:

Where is the other $1.5 million dollars going to come from to complete this project – also where are the funds going to come from for the ongoing use of the dome ie: electricity or diesel costs to keep it inflated and for the continual maintenance for example for the snow removal costs any repair costs?

I sent emails and made phone calls (as did my neighbours) trying to get details on the specifics on this project – no one provided any so I ask each of you how can you vote on a project that you know little or nothing at all about – city said contact the school board for the details - well the chair never bothered replying to me and Joe Santa Maria on behalf of the board said “he had nothing to add and this would not require the noise and construction that occurred during the build of the school over 15 years ago. The successful contractor will likely carry the same levels of insurance needed to deal with any potential claims." 

No information was provided to me on on the proposed structure – how did they arrive at a $2.5 million price tag if they have no documentation on on their end? 

I, and my neighbours, have many more reasons to request that this motion either be removed immediately or voted down.

You also say it’s not city money. Well city, province or federal, it’s all our tax dollars

I respectfully on behalf of the neighbours of Superior Drive request that you deal with the facts and not with the “it would be good for our city” and do the right and ethical thing and reject this.

This morning, Jennings woke up and posted this on her Facebook page: "It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood!"