Municipal officials and skateboard park committee members are awaiting confirmation on exactly what strings are attached to a $10,000 donation before debating helmet use at the proposed skateboard park.
Last month Mountain View County council approved the donation to the skateboard park committee on condition that a rule is put in place requiring helmets for users who are under 18 years of age.
Pitched by Div. 7 counillor Al Kemmere, the condition didn't sit well with many including Sundre area councillor Bob Orr who said it seemed like extortion.
The committee hasn't brought the issue to Sundre council yet, said Mayor Annette Clews but the condition placed on the donation will have ramifications for town council, she said.
While it is a committee that is fundraising for the estimated $230,000 facility, the proposed skateboard park will be owned by the town and the municipality will be responsible for maintenance.
“We've never experienced a third party organization giving a grant to someone and putting conditions on us. This is new,” Clews said.
And right now, she said she isn't clear on the intent of the condition.
“I've had two emails about it, one saying a rule, the second email says a bylaw,” said Clews. “We need confirmation on exactly what is expected before we talk about it.”
There is an Alberta law requiring bicyclists under the age of 18 to wear a helmet but there is no laws concerning helmet use by skateboarders.
And currently, the town has no bylaw in place that deals with helmet use either.
While the municipality owns the toboggan hill half-pipe at Snake Hill, the facility is a “use at your own risk” site.
Throughout the years that the proposed skateboard park has been discussed, she said helmet use has not come up.
“It's a very contentious issue,” said Clews.
Some are against wearing helmets due to perceived aesthetics. Others are in favour of their use as a safety precaution.
Clews said she was intrigued by Mountain View County's condition on the donation.
“I say intrigued because my first thought was ‘what do the parents think about it.'”
But as a council, Clews said they've never discussed helmet use.
“That is a discussion that council has to have,” she said.
With the county's donation confirmed, the skateboard park committee says it hopes to break ground this spring.
Newline Skateparks Inc. will be building the estimated $230,000 facility.
So far the committee has raised more than $90,000 in cash donations and about $15,000 in services.
It intends to raise $130,000 then apply for a $105,000 Community Facility Enhancement grant.
- With files from John Gleeson
"I've had two emails about it, one saying a rule, the second email says a bylaw. We need confirmation on exactly what is expected before we talk about it."Annette ClewsSundre mayor
