SUNDRE — Numerous community organizations will be receiving grant funding from the town.
But not all of the applications were approved in the full amount requested, with one being declined outright.
The municipality received a dozen applications in its first round of intakes for the town’s grant program, which had a submission deadline of Jan. 31.
“All were very good, worthwhile projects,” Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, told council during the regular Feb. 7 meeting conducted in person and by teleconference.
“But of course, as is normal, the amounts requested did exceed the amount that we do have available for the first intake,” said Nelson.
According to background information outlined in council’s agenda for the meeting, $25,000 was allotted for the program, with the 12 applications amounting to nearly $45,500.
The three-member committee of council tasked with reviewing applications and making recommendations for council’s consideration prior to final approval, met earlier this month.
“As I’m sure you can all well imagine, it is a difficult task for the committee members to make these recommendations as they were all very, very good projects,” said Nelson.
Out of the 12 applications, council agreed with the committee’s recommendations to provide full or partial funding requested by nine groups. In no particular order, they were:
• Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association: $1,000 granted from initial request of $2,600 to support promotions, equipment and training;
• Olds & District Music Festival: the full $500 sought in support of the event;
• Sundre Seniors Walking Club: the full $1,136 asked for to cover rental of the community centre;
• Sundre Municipal Library: the full $270 requested to help sustain the Story Walk on Main Avenue West;
• Shady Grove Blue Grass Music Festival: half of the $3,000 requested in support of the event;
• Sundre Pro Rodeo Parade committee: the full $3,000 sought to help cover the cost of bringing the Lord Strathcona’s Mounted Troop and Pipe Band;
• Both the Sundre & District Historical Society and the chamber of commerce: the full $2,825 requested to help with WinterFest 2022 activities;
• Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society: the full $2,250 sought to help complete renovations at The Den youth centre; and
• Sundre & District Allied Arts Society: $4,000 of the $6,500 asked for to help cover the cost of upgrading to permanent flooring in the seating area.
Grant program's criteria
Council discussed in greater depth the remaining three applications that had left the committee questioning whether the applications met the criteria outlined in the grant program’s terms.
Those were the Sundre West Country Centre that asked for $8,000 to replace casino revenues and match a provincial grant; the Sundre Pickleball Club that was seeking $12,000 for new nets at the repaved courts behind Sundre High School; and the U-13 Huskies hockey team’s request for an in-kind contribution of $3,306 for ice rental.
Although members of council unanimously recognized the value all of the groups provide the community, the reluctance to rubber-stamp their requests stemmed primarily from the criteria the committee is tasked to consider before making recommendations.
Commenting on the Sundre West Country Centre’s request, Coun. Owen Petersen, one of three council members to sit on the committee, said the policy for grants clearly states the fund is not intended to sustain an organization long-term. However, he added the pandemic has of course presented a difficult hurdle for most of the volunteers in the organization, which delivers a variety of programs and activities for local seniors.
“I believe approving money for this would kind of go against our policy, but perhaps a worthy exception in this situation,” said Petersen.
Mayor Richard Warnock pointed out the centre has received some funding through the grant program in the past, and expressed concern about the organization returning to apply for funding at every intake.
Coun. Todd Dalke, who is among the members to sit on the review committee, said there was a lengthy discussion but that the committee ultimately decided it couldn’t make an exception. He added that administration could perhaps work alongside the organization to provide help looking into other available grants.
“We want them to apply for our grant — for repairs or what not moving forward. But this time, they don’t meet the criteria,” said Dalke.
Coun. Chris Vardas said he didn’t want to leave the struggling organization with no funding at all, and moved to provide $1,000.
Coun. Jaime Marr, another member of the committee, praised the West Country Centre and said she’d get a membership as soon as she turns 50, but added the group was unable to show they had applied for other grants.
“We took that in our decision-making,” she said, adding they could always resubmit an application during the second intake round.
The mayor spoke in favour of Vardas’s motion, calling it a fairly small amount compared with how much had been requested. Council went on to carry the motion.
As for the pickelball club, Petersen said that discussion was less difficult for the committee.
“From my understanding, they received a substantial amount over last couple of years,” he said, adding the town had helped with the volunteer-driven effort to repave the former deteriorated tennis court.
“So, asking for another $12,000, is a very large ask, considering what we’ve already given to that group.”
The mayor agreed and said the municipality had been generous to the club in the past. The town only has so much funding budgeted for the grant program, and the funds should be allocated to a greater variety of groups.
“We cannot again support one organization continually at every grant intake,” said Warnock, expressing support for the committee conclusion to not approve the application.
And with regards to the provincial hockey tournament the U-13 Huskies will be hosting in March, Dalke said the committee felt the request was more akin to a donation.
Coun. Connie Anderson said referees will have to be brought in from away, meaning a greater mileage and accommodation cost for the team, and suggested waiving the ice rental.
“It doesn’t cost us anything, it’s just less income for us,” said Anderson.
Vardas agreed, and said organizations like Sundre Minor Hockey Association bring a lot to the community, especially when a large event like provincials draw people to town.
Marr cautioned about the potential of setting a precedent in a community that also has many other sporting organizations with multiple leagues and many teams that could each come forward with similar requests.
Vardas said any such requests would simply be considered on a case-by-case basis and that council could cross that bridge when it gets there.
Anderson argued precedent was already set after the town previously offered the use of the rink when provincials were last hosted in Sundre many years ago.
Use of the ball diamonds for provincial events have also been donated in the past, he said.
Weighing in, Warnock said the tournament had been cancelled due to COVID, but not before the former council had at the time approved giving the team the ice time.
“I’m not sure where that would be if we didn’t do it this time,” he said, adding there is a big benefit to the community’s businesses when so many people visit for a tournament.
Dalke emphasized the committee was merely adhering to the guidelines it must follow when considering whether to approve applications, and said the recommendations do not reflect the committee’s views or feelings about the groups.
“It’s not the committee’s intent to say we don’t support” them, he said. “We can only base it on the numbers given.”
After a first motion to donate the ice time as a $3,000 in-kind contribution was defeated on a tie vote, a subsequent motion to approve half of the request mounted carried.
Petersen called that motion a middle ground approach, and reminded council that an in-kind donation isn’t free as there are staffing costs involved.
