ATHABASCA — Three community halls in Athabasca County may see funding changes in 2024 following council’s decision to tighten up the list of centres eligible for the Community Hall Assistance grant.
During the Aug. 22 budget and finance committee meeting, councillors voted 9-0 to accept a revised list of community halls that meet policy criteria for grants up to 50 per cent of the previous years’ power, gas and insurance costs.
The community hall assistance grant policy was first in front of councillors at the June 27 policy review committee meeting, where council directed administration to review the list of facilities to add or remove missing or ineligible halls or centres.
Administration brought back a revised list for council’s consideration, which included recommendations to remove four facilities on the list: Parkview Community Hall, Plamondon & Wandering River Community Resource Centre, Poachers Landing Recreation Club, and the Rochester Seniors Drop-in Centre, as they are no longer active, or failed to meet policy requirements that they be available for public rental.
Coun. Joe Gerlach expressed concern over the recommendation to remove the Rochester drop-in centre, which he maintained is used frequently by the public, arguably more than many other halls included in the list.
Administration changed their recommendation and added the Rochester Seniors Drop-in Centre to the revised list of eligible centres; a motion to amend the policy as presented was passed 9-0 following the addition.
Reeve Brian Hall suggested looking into creating alternative policy for those facilities determined ineligible, as they and the programs they host might still benefit from county funding.
“We’re trying to support community, we’re trying to sustain community and have encourage the success and viability of community halls and community organizations,” said Hall, who also motioned for administration to prepare a discussion paper on the feasibility of consolidating the number of community facility recreation grants into one overarching policy to “make (county) work and dollars more efficient.”
Hall’s motion was passed unanimously, and county council will review the discussion paper during the next policy review committee which has not been scheduled.
