School or recreation?

Posted on: J A McRae

County council meets about municipal reserve

Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter

Wheatland County held an open house at the county offices to determine how the municipal reserve should be spent.

The open house took place on July 6 and only a handful of members came to speak about how they think it should be spent. Under the Municipal Government Act, MGA, the reserve can only be used for a public park, a public recreation area, school authority purposes or to separate areas of land that are used for different purposes.

Currently the reserve has $2.3 million in it, which is the most there has been in years.  Once money is in the reserve it becomes universal and will not be strictly designated to the area in which it came from.  Council wanted to gather members of the county so they could figure out what the people want to see done before they make a final decision. “I don’t think there is a town in our county that isn’t struggling for help,” said Councillor Alice Booth from division one. 

The money may be given all to one purpose or it may be split between recreation and school divisions. Once the money has been designated council has no say over how it is used, but applicants are to provide an outline of what their purpose for it is.

After some discussion council and the residents appeared to agree education is important and money should go towards the school division. Residents suggested a 75/25 per cent split, with 75 per cent going to the school division.  Another suggestion was to always keep one million in residual.  Council will be discussing and making their decision soon, and it should be brought forth at the regular county council meeting on July 20.