Rocky View County council approved $688,443 in recreational funding to assist more than 60 community groups June 4.
“These community groups play a vital role in the well-being of county residents, and we are happy to support them,” said Reeve Rolly Ashdown.
Community organizations are able to request financial assistance for the cost of operating their facilities and programs through the county’s Community Recreation Funding program. Council approves the requests annually. The money is generated through annual taxes on residential properties.
Ten recreation boards will receive the following funding:
• Bearspaw Glendale - $111,012
• Beiseker and District - $20,000
• Bow North - $97,100
• Chestermere-Conrich - $20,000
• Crossfield and District - $30,000
• Madden - $12,000
• Ranch Lands - $36,600
• Rocky View Central - $29,600
• Rocky View East - $47,306
• Rocky View West - $284,815
Councillor Al Sacuta asked administration why Bragg Creek Community Centre is receiving $198,000 of Rocky View West’s total funding.
“It would be interesting to know why their operational costs are so much higher,” he asked.
Dari Lang, recreational services coordinator, said the Bragg Creek Community Centre would be presenting an outline of its operations to council June 18, which will provide clarification.
“Going forward, we need less of a tax subsidy for these facilities because they’re supposed to be sustainable. We need to take a look at the tax benefits,” said councillor Lois Habberfield.
The county has an overall budget of $1,022,609 to support community groups for 2013. The approval of the annual operational facility funding represents 67 per cent of the total budget. The remaining funds will be used to support community organizations with projects such as repairs and renovations on facilities.
Rocky View County council also approved recreational funding requests for community groups May 28.
Deputy reeve Paul McLean was supportive of the requests because he said it is important to provide the residents with recreational and cultural opportunities. Four of the five requests were from his division, which covers the northwest quadrant of the county around Cochrane.
“I think this is investing back into the group so they can invest back into the community themselves,” he said.
He added the money invested by council becomes “multiplying dollars” because these organizations, in turn, often invest in other community groups.
Universal Rehabilitation Services Agency (URSA), a non-profit organization that provides general services to people with disabilities, will receive capital funding of $21,020.
The funds will be used to build a gazebo on URSA’s camp grounds located northwest of Cochrane, and to buy a Trailrider, which is a mobility device that allows people with disabilities to travel over any kind of rugged terrain. The funds represent 50 per cent of the total projected cost.
The Cochrane Lions Club will receive $6,000, which is about 25 per cent of the $24,500 project cost, to upgrade and make repairs to the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Grounds.
The costs include removing and replacing the panels, timing chutes and gates; landscaping; buying new sand and gravel; and general work on the grounds.
“A lot of the members are rural residents and use this venue,” said McLean.
The Friends of Westbrook School Society (FWSS) requested $15,000, about 50 per cent of the total project cost, to build a new sport court surface area at the Westbrook School. FWSS’s application said it “would like to increase recreational opportunities that exist in the greater Westbrook area” and a new sports court “will provide an outdoor activity centre for residents in the immediate and surrounding area.”
Councillor Lois Habberfield said that it was “nice to see” Rocky View School Board match the requested $15,000.
The Cochrane and Area Events Society, which puts on festivals such as WinterFest, SummerFest and the Labour Day Parade, will receive $1,000 towards the $3,150 cost of buying a storage trailer.
The group said in their application that this would save time and money as it would allow equipment and materials for the events to be stored at one location.
