OLDS — Town administrative staff have been asked by council to create a process to disperse the $23,000 remaining in the community’s Mountain View Summer Games Legacy Fund among local groups.
Council passed a motion to that effect during its March 28 meeting.
The motion calls on administrative staff to not only create a process for determining fund disbursement, but also to report back to councillors about it no later than council’s June policies and priorities meeting.
It all stems from a presentation by Friends of the Olds Grizzlys (FOTOG) who appeared before council during its March 7 policies and priorities meeting.
FOTOG representatives, along with Grizzlys head coach Scott Atkinson, noted that with help from local contractors, a new Grizzlys Den for players, management and board members has been created in a space provided by a local businessman at a very discounted rate.
The club began using the facility a couple of months ago.
FOTOG reps emphasized that although it was created with development of players in mind, the Grizzlys Den is also shared with Olds Minor Hockey and its space could be made available to other groups in the community.
Their submission said the cost for materials to create the facility was about $40,000.
They asked Olds council to provide the FOTOG with $5,000 to help cover that cost and added that a donor wall will be created and advertising taken out to acknowledge donors for their contributions.
During debate, councillors indicated support for helping out the Grizzlys, but also noted that many other groups in town could likely use some fiscal help as well.
A request for decision from administrative staff noted there is $23,201 remaining in the legacy fund and listed five options for council to consider. They included approving the Grizzlys’ request, tabling the matter or essentially not approving that request.
Councillors liked option 3: directing administration to look at developing a community grant program to allocate the remaining funds from the Sumer Games Legacy Foundation and to report back to council on the matter during the June policies and priorities committee meeting.
However, at the suggestion of Coun. James Cummings, that option was modified to call on administrative staff to develop a proposed system for allocating the money and to report back by the June meeting, rather than on that date.
That way, Cummings said, the hope is a process can be developed and approved by council faster if possible, so the money can go out the door that much earlier.
“I think (such a process) would give a wholesale opportunity for everybody to have equal share and response to the funding request and based on community needs,” acting interim chief administrative officer Justin Andrew said.
Councillors Dan Daley and Wanda Blatz liked the idea of allocating money to other groups in the community as well.
“I feel it’s a much better process to do it fair and equitably,” Blatz said.
"l support the idea of what the Friends of the Grizzlys are trying to do for development and training of their minor hockey and their own players, but I would much prefer to see (distribution) amongst the community and make it fair and equitable.”
Although he agreed with the position of Blatz and Daley, Coun. Darren Wilson pointed out there are other training facilities in town, including the Community Learning Centre gym and a few privately owned and run facilities.
He also expressed support for the Grizzlys. The club brings many fans to town for its games, many of whom spend money in the community.
