A fee waiver request from the Swing For Charity Sno-Pitch Tournament for use of the three Sundre ball diamonds has been declined by Sundre town council.
During last week's regularly scheduled town council meeting, councillors defeated a motion calling for the waiver of the $350 fee for the March 2-3 community fundraising tournament.
Tournament organizers had requested the waiver in a letter presented to council. In the letter, organizing committee member Kim Comfort said waiving the fee would be “an important part of the tournament and allows for the committee to disburse greater funds to local charities.”
The fee had been waived for the tournament for the previous six years.
During last week's council meeting, Sundre Minor Ball vice-president Jeannette Weiss and longtime minor ball umpire Connie Anderson appeared before council to oppose the waiver request.
Weiss told councillors that the fees are needed to help maintain and upgrade the Sundre ball diamonds.
“The money is really needed for those ball diamonds,” said Weiss. “The diamonds are in very bad shape. We've put lots of volunteer hours in making those diamonds.”
Fees collected for use of the diamonds go back towards the annual maintenance and upkeep of the diamonds, council heard.
Mayor Annette Clews told Weiss and Anderson that she was in support of their call for the fees to be collected and then spend on maintenance and upkeep.
“It's time they start reinvesting back to the ball diamonds,” said Clews.
Councillors Patricia Toone and Paul Isaac were not present during last week's council meeting.
This year's Swing for Charity tournament is raising money for four groups: Sundre Fire and Rescue Society, Sundre Skatepark project, Sundre Hospital and Emergency Care Centre, and Sundre Playschool.
Sno-pitch organizing committee member and spokesperson Dallas Rosevear said the tournament will be going ahead as planned next month.
“This tournament brings lots of visitors to town every year, which helps our businesses” he said. “We spend six months of volunteer work to get ready for this tournament every year.”
Rosevear noted that the committee has to pay $210 for the Sundre Community Centre rental, plus $350 for the diamonds (plus GST), and an additional $100 deposit for the diamonds.
He added that the committee may be looking to host the tournament at a different location, such as Eagle Hill or Westward Ho, in 2013.
