Municipalities meet to discuss recreation
Mario Prusina – Times Editor
The various municipalities within Wheatland gathered at the counties council meeting April 20 to discuss the status of recreation in the area – now and in the future.
The county, along with representatives from the Town of Strathmore and the villages of Hussar, Standard and Rockyford, discussed the possibility of creating a board to plan and dispense money to the various recreational facilities in the area.
Each municipality planned to review their recreational needs with their individual councils, before scheduling a future meeting as a larger group. “Everything was going a lot smoother when the province was handing out money (for recreation), but when they cut back, you don’t want to close the doors,” said Glenn Koester, Wheatland Councilor for Div. 6. “You’ve got to look at other sources of funding … the costs are getting huge.”
Strathmore Mayor George Lattery presented the county with current statistics of the operational costs for some of the town’s recreational facilities, and the numbers were staggering. Where those numbers were combined with the rest of the town’s recreational facilities and the various villages facilities, the operational costs are in the millions of dollars per year.
“I believe the towns and villages will kick into the pot the same amount as the county does – on a proportional basis,” said Koester. “That way everyone is doing the same thing – that’s the way I’d like to see it. We haven’t had that talk with council yet; I don’t know how council will go.
“If everybody’s paying the same, I don’t think that anybody has any grounds to complain about it.”
County supports Rosebud Historical Society
A presentation was made by the Rosebud Historical Society to seek support from the county to accept charitable donations on their behalf.
The Canada Revenue Agency did not approve the society’s account, thus preventing them to issue tax-free receipts.
Council approved the notion to write tax receipts for donations over $20.
“People want to donate money for the betterment of the community, (so) it’s our … right to issue tax receipts,” said Koester. “I think if our citizens want to make use of that, it’s up to us to help them out. The (Rosebud) Historical Society have the only museum in the county … it is a local initiative. As soon as you give tax receipts, (people) can give more money.”
Water meter test
Residents in the county who use the regional water system and have disputes with their bills have an option to rectify the problem.
The county will offer its residents a chance to test their water meters for a fee. If the meter is broken, the money will be reimbursed.
“They can come to the county and say ‘I think my water meter isn’t right’ and they will put a deposit for the cost of testing it,” said Koester. “If the water meter is not within the two per cent, we keep the deposit to pay the meter man.
“If the meter is defective, then we’ll refund the money.”
Drumheller seeks funds
The Town of Drumheller made a presentation to county council seeking a $500,000 sponsorship for their new recreational facility.
The new venue will include a library, cultural centre, meeting rooms, field house (including soccer, lacrosse, running track, change room, bleachers), an ice arena and curling rink.
Construction of the multi-million dollar project is slated to start June 1.