Frank Humber was joking Tuesday morning when he answered the telephone and said, “I can’t talk right now. I am busy digging up the field.”
But he was pretty serious when he was asked about the news that Corner Brook city council approved an architectural firm’s proposal for design of a new clubhouse for Jubilee Field.
At its regular Monday night meeting, the city, in a request for decision brought forward by Coun. Vaughn Granter, unanimously approved a proposal by LAT 49 Architect Inc. to perform prime consulting services associated with a new design to conform to a concept as previously developed for the Jubilee Field clubhouse.
The agreement between the city and the architectural firm is in the amount of $99,992.50 (HST included).
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“It seems to be trending in the right direction, that’s all I can tell you,” Humber said. “We’re excited to hear the news. If there’s an investment in engineering services of that magnitude, you got to think the funding will follow somewhere along the way.”
Humber has been involved with the local baseball association’s desire to get a major overhaul done at the field for over 25 years, so he’s been patient in waiting to see the project come to fruition.
Humber said the association had been working with the city on some conceptual designs, but they want to continue working hand-in-hand with the city to make sure the design is good for everybody involved because he’s well aware that “the devil is in the details.”
He wants to see the work done right the first time around because he figures it would take another 50 years to see it happen if there had to be any modifications.
“It’s critical that it’s done right and we understand that it’s not unlimited resources. We understand that all of the things we would like to see in the building won’t necessarily be present and the design that would be preferred by some may not be possible because of resources, so it’s a matter of looking at it and reaching compromises and moving forward with it.”
Humber has been waiting over 25 years for the project to become a reality.
It’s no doubt he would have been just fine if he found himself with shovel in hand at Jubilee Field on Tuesday.
