Council unanimously approved the allocation of $75,000 worth of funding to seven different social programs at its regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 10. "We were oversubscribed this year," said Director of Community and Protective Services Terry Welsh.
Council unanimously approved the allocation of $75,000 worth of funding to seven different social programs at its regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 10.
"We were oversubscribed this year," said Director of Community and Protective Services Terry Welsh. "Some decisions had to be made."
Big Brothers Big Sisters-In School Mentoring will receive $20,875, tied with Family School Wellness-Chinook's Edge School Division for the largest contribution. Big Brothers Big Sisters Teen Mentoring will receive $12,000, Innisfail Family Centre secured a $9,200 grant, McMan Just Say Know will receive $6,200, the Senior's Drop-In Centre came out with $5,000 and Meals on Wheels will get $850.
Coun. Mark Kemball said groups were encouraged to top up their funding from other sources.
Councillors on the Family and Community Support Services committee were particularly impressed with the Just Say Know initiative as presented by McMan Youth Family and Community Services Association.
"This is a program that is geared towards parents of teens who are maybe heading down the wrong path using drugs," Kemball said. "They're basically learning how to talk to their kids, what the drugs are and to speak their language."
Joanne Crook, family school wellness supervisor was glad to hear about the funding approval.
"We're thrilled to continue a strong relationship with FCSS in Innisfail," she said. "Typically what family school wellness does is they address family-based issues in a preventative manner."
Pottery subsidy
Betty Hobbs will receive $920 in rental assistance from the Town of Innisfail to support the pottery classes she's been teaching for the past three years
"The upcoming classes have been very well received and are at full capacity to the end of 2013," she wrote in a request for funding letter. "I cannot increase the number of students in these classes as expansion is limited by the size of the current facility."
The funding will help build the program to a more financially sustainable footing, council heard.
The administration-recommended amount of $920 was approved unanimously.
Pool pump purchase
Council unanimously approved $10,000 in additional funding for pool renovations. When the pool was drained and inspected as part of the annual pool shutdown workers found a pump and capacity issue.
"We're at a point where we have to look at replacing the pump and motor," said Welsh.
Other costs built into the funding include a hot tub valve and room for contingency spending.
Welsh noted more work is being undertaken during the pool shutdown this season, as well.
