The Penticton Tennis Club is looking for continued support from the city as plans call for demolition of the club's facilities by the end of this year. The Penticton Curling Club also made a pitch to Penticton City Council earlier this week at Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting, Aug.15, 2017.

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PENTICTON - Two Penticton sports organizations appealed to Penticton city council for financial assistance this week.

Council heard from Penticton Tennis Club President Jack Shepe and Penticton Curling Club Manager Cathy Jones during the Committee of the Whole meeting on Aug. 15.

Shepe gave council a rundown on the present condition of the Penticton Tennis Club, advising council of the scheduled demolition of the club’s building at the end of the year.

Noting the club’s lease was up for renewal, Shepe sought assurance from council to continue supporting the club through a previous agreement to provide land and a building to the club.

Shepe said the club was never compensated for loss of the tennis bubble when it was torn down to make way for the South Okanagan Events Centre several years ago.

He told council the tennis club paid more for their lease than the Penticton Golf Club.

Shepe said future plans for the tennis club included hopes to expand from four courts to six or eight, in order to bring tournaments to town.

Responding to a question from Coun. Andre Martin, Shepe said the City’s previous contractual agreement obligated it to provide the club with land and a building with facilities.

Staff will report to council next month with a recommendation regarding the tennis club.

Curling Club manager Cathy Jones spoke to council along with Curling Club board president Joe Dias at the same meeting.

The curling club was seeking $89,000 to upgrade a rapidly failing ice plant.

Jones told council the 42-year-old ice plant wasn’t worth investing any more money in, and with two major tournaments slated for the facility - the World Curling Tour and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts - it would be more cost effective to look at replacing the refrigeration unit completely.

Council agreed to loan the club up to $45,000 for a new compressor and other repairs as outlined by the City’s facilities manager. The issue is slated to come back to council at a short council meeting planned for Tuesday,  Aug. 22 with details about the loan for endorsement by council.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2017