SUNDRE – Every last remaining cent in the municipality’s budgeted amount for the 2024 grants to organizations program was recently disbursed among nine groups including a local business.
The town’s policy outlines processes and eligibility criteria for non-profit organizations, charities as well as local business operators that qualify to apply for funding in two annual intakes with deadlines on Jan. 31 and Sept. 30.
Council had previously budgeted $50,000 for the 2024 grants to organizations program, which following the first round of applications earlier this year had a remaining balance of $20,260 for the second round.
The grant review committee, upon which mayor Richard Warnock as well as councillors Connie Anderson, Paul Isaac and Chris Vardas sit, considered on Oct. 9 requests for funding from nine applicants whose cumulative total amounted to $25,466.
By contrast, 25 applications had been received during the first round of intakes with total requests amounting to $107,314, of which $29,740 was ultimately approved by council.
During the regular meeting on Oct. 28, Anderson presented a brief report on each application recapping the committee’s prior discussion.
First up was the Sundre Daycare Centre, which sought $3,500 to put on a bike rodeo in 2025, with the committee recommending $1,500, he said.
“The committee felt that we should not pay for wages; just the prizes and that,” he said, moving to approve the recommended amount.
Without further discussion, council carried the motion unanimously.
The Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association requested $500 to help develop professionally-created promotional material for print and social media, with the committee recommending $250.
“They can go to the county for the other half if they can get it,” said Anderson, who moved to approve the recommended amount.
Coun. Todd Dalke pointed out there also exists a Rural Crime Watch group that spans out more into Mountain View County, while SCOPA volunteers largely keep an eye out in town with some patrols on county roads around Sundre.
“It would be wonderful if they could get their entire ask to ensure that their materials go out for their volunteers,” said Dalke. “Definitely well worth the investment.”
Dalke sought to amend Anderson’s motion to instead award the full $500 SCOPA had requested.
“If we take it to $500, we’ve got to come up with another $250,” cautioned Anderson, adding the grant fund was essentially tapped out.
The mayor suggested that at worst, council could simply approve the minor overage and draw the funds from its discretionary fund.
Coun. Jaime Marr asked if SCOPA hadn’t already created promotional materials like pamphlets.
“Everything was done in house,” Dalke said.
Vardas said he hadn’t realized there was a separate group that had more of a focus on patrolling county roads and added he was amendable to Dalke’s motion, which went onto be narrowly defeated with Warnock, Marr, Isaac, and Anderson opposed. The original motion to approve $250 was then carried.
The Mountain View High School Rodeo’s request for $2,500 to offset the cost of hosting the event was recommended to be approved in full.
“We thought it was a good idea because they bring a lot of stuff into town,” said Anderson.
Coun. Jaime Marr asked if council had ever previously awarded them money in the past, and heard the last time was in 2020 to the tune of $1,500.
Speaking in favour, Coun. Owen Petersen said, “We really value our professional rodeo in town and so this builds towards that. It’s one of those foundation stones I think in building a culture of rodeo in Sundre.”
Vardas added the event also provides an important economic ripple effect for the community, and Anderson’s motion to approve the request was carried unanimously.
B.S. Productions, which currently has rehearsals well underway for their rendition of the family-friendly musical Mary Poppins, asked for $4,300 to cover print and advertising costs, with the committee recommending $2,550.
“Theatre is near and dear to my heart. I really enjoy and hope it continues in our community,” said Petersen, speaking in favour.
Anderson’s motion carried with Dalke opposed.
The Sundre Pickleball Association applied for $2,500 to purchase a new net with the committee recommending the approval of $2,000.
Marr sought to confirm how many times that group had previously applied and been approved for funding. In 2021, pickleball received $10,000, in 2022 the group got $2,200 and was last year granted $1,000, she heard.
Vardas agreed the pickleball group had benefited from the grant program multiple times. That being said, the councillor praised the work that had been accomplished with other funds the group’s volunteers had raised.
“The court looks in fantastic shape, and I’ve never seen it busier,” he said. “I think they’re doing a great job.”
The mayor agreed and added the court provides a great recreational opportunity for both Sundre and Mountain View County residents. But he also concurred with Marr’s point about the grant program not necessarily being intended to offer annual funding.
“If we do this, we got to be really cognizant of fact that they can’t come year after year after year,” the mayor said, calling a vote that carried with Marr and Dalke opposed.
Vardas briefly excused himself from the council chamber when the application of $5,000 submitted by Original T’s Family Restaurant, which he owns, came up for discussion. Anderson said that some $25,000 had been spent on renovating the restaurant’s storefront to improve its curb appeal and that the committee recommended approving the full amount, and he made a motion to that effect which carried unanimously.
The Sundre Seniors Indoor Walking Club’s application for $1,296 to cover the rental cost of the community centre was also approved at the full amount requested without opposition.
The Sundre Volunteer Search and Rescue Society submitted an application for $3,793, the amount the organization was quoted to obtain specialized rescue equipment to more comfortably transport a person through rugged terrain. While the organization already owns a basket gurney, the sought-after upgrades would include the additional installation of a wheel, shield, and handle system. The committee recommended approving $2,897, which Anderson so moved.
“They should apply to the county for the rest,” he said.
Speaking in favour, Petersen said, “I know Search and Rescue operates 99.9 per cent not in the Town of Sundre. But we support here in Sundre a lot of tourism and a lot of activities that flow through Sundre.”
So Petersen said he wanted to keep supporting SAR to ensure that resource is always available for people who come through Sundre to enjoy the west country.
Dalke asked if there might be any duplication with the types of rescue services conducted by the Sundre Fire Department.
The mayor said when volunteers with Sundre Search and Rescue are for example activated to help with an operation in Rocky Mountain House that they respond without the local fire department or its resources and equipment unless specifically called in.
“It’s exactly that,” said Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer.
“It’s searching for lost people, so it’s not an emergency response” that would draw on the fire department’s resources, said Nelson.
The mayor called a vote on Anderson’s motion, which carried unanimously.
Last up for discussion but certainly not least was the Sundre and District Aquatic Society’s application for $2,076.99 to install a new water fountain and bottle-filling station.
“We thought it was a great idea,” said Anderson, adding the committee recommended rounding up the requested amount to $2,077.
“It’s a great thing to have,” said Vardas, adding it makes sense for a fitness facility to have a water bottle filling station as opposed to the old fashioned way of hunching over to reach the nozzle on a fountain shared by everyone.
That motion also carried unanimously.
Noting there remained a minor balance in the program’s 2024 allotment, Petersen then moved for the balance of about $190 to be awarded to SCOPA to supplement the amount the group had already been granted. That motion also passed with Isaac opposed.
