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County to revise community group funding policy

All funding requests to Westlock County from community groups for the rest of 2018 will be deferred until upcoming budget deliberations to provide ample time for council to revise its community group funding policy to include operating costs.

All funding requests to Westlock County from community groups for the rest of 2018 will be deferred until upcoming budget deliberations to provide ample time for council to revise its community group funding policy to include operating costs.

Council made the decision to amend the current community group funding policy at its Sept. 11 meeting after reviewing and discussing a request for decision from administration.

Director of corporate services Diane Urkow explained that current policies only deal with capital funding and contributions for gravel for community groups and not operating funds, which is what many are requesting when they approach the county for support.

“Administration is recommending that the current policies be reviewed, combined and incorporated to include operating funds,” said Urkow. “This would provide a really clear understanding for community groups what funding is available and when this funding is available and what qualifications are required.”

It would also provide equal and fair opportunity for all groups to access these funds, said chief administrative officer Leo Ludwig. The process would be more streamlined and less scattered if all funding requests were before council at budget time.

“It would be good to come up with a policy that has all of the requests come in at a certain time, so they can be viewed at budget time and weighed against the same measuring stick at the same time,” said Ludwig.

Tawatinaw agreement

Coun. Dennis Primeau asked what set the Friends of Tawatinaw group apart from other community groups seeking funding and support.

The recent agreement to allow the Friends of Tawatinaw group to operate the ski hill will see the county pitch in $200,000 annually for operating costs to keep the hill running for the three-year operating agreement.

“You’ve knocked the door right off the barn and you’re starting from scratch,” said Primeau, who was one of two councillors to vote no, along with Coun. Fred Slobodian, to enter into the ski hill agreement.

“We need to be at the forefront instead of at the back of the bus on this. We’re doing old, traditional funding that’s been going on for 50 years and we have to change. This is not sustainable.”

He said the decision will lead to other groups “dumping their books at the county ... and all of a sudden you’re problems are gone.”

“Be careful where you’re going,” warned Primeau.

Coun. Slobodian said the timing of the ski hill agreement and the funding policy revision is unfortunate, optics-wise.

Different community groups around the region saw what the Tawatinaw group got and they want some too, he said.

“I have no issues with that and I believe these guys need help ... We’ve got a tough road ahead of us here. Dennis and I brought this up a month or two ago that there is going to be more people coming now and there is and I don’t blame them.”

Deputy reeve Brian Coleman said he supported the recommendation to revise the policy and moved a motion saying as much.

He disagreed with Slobodian on the timing issue though.

“Council has made a decision on the ski hill, so I don’t even know why that’s being discussed.”

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