Approximately $7,500 of surplus recreation funds will be used to offset the operating cost of Beiseker recreation facilities, Jan. 14.
Council unanimously approved the motion, made by Deputy Mayor Al Henuset to have excess funds transferred to a Village account that provides maintenance for the facilities, which include Beiseker Arena, Friendship Park and the community hall.
“Facilities can’t operate at much more of a deficit than they already have,” said Mayor Ray Courtman.
“The only other option is a user fee.”
The excess funds came from the $17,325 provided by Rocky View County in the spring of 2012 for recreation programming and facilities in the village.
The County supplies the money so its residents can use Beiseker recreation facilities and programs.
The funds in question were available because there were no requests for funding for recreation programs last year.
The motion came after a heated debate surrounding Councillor Fred Walters’ motion to have the surplus recreation funds redirected to a reserve account maintained by the Village.
The motion brought forth by Walters was defeated in a four-to-one vote, with Walters the only councillor who voted in favour.
CAO Jo Lambert raised one of the main topics of the debate when she mentioned a somewhat confusing process council must go through with the Village’s recreation board to delegate funds. Currently, those wanting money must provide a written request to the board.
Lambert said the board acts as an intermediary between the residents who would request resources from the recreation fund and the council.
Walters told council that even with this process in place, “Council has the final say on where the (excess) funds go.”
Lambert reminded council of an earlier request to the recreation board for the excess money in the fund go to offset the operating costs of the arena. The board responded by authorizing only half of the approximately $15,000 go to maintenance of the facility.
The motion passed, to direct surplus recreation funds to facility maintenance at the end of each year, will circumvent the process of a written request to the board, which indicated a desire for the money to be put into a reserve fund.
