BARRHEAD - County of Barrhead councillors approved a $2,500 contribution for the town's annual New Year's Eve fireworks performance.
Councillors approved the expense at their Sept. 17 meeting.
The municipality has contributed to the fireworks display and the one for Canada Day since 2012.
The Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS) volunteer fireworks team conducts the show.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun said that since the winter of 2021, the municipality's contribution has come from the community grants policy funding pool.
The granting program allowed eligible not-for-profit organizations to apply for up to $2,500 annually to offset the costs of projects or events that benefit county residents.
However, she said in August, council opted to remove several regularly reoccurring grants from the pool, including the one from the BRFS for the New Year's Eve fireworks display, to free up money in the pool after the $15,000 fund had been exhausted. The removed grant applications will be funded through the 2024 Year-end Surplus.
Oyarzun said the reason why admin brought the funding request to councillors for their consideration is that even though the event is recurring, and one council has approved previously as part of the community grant program has approved in the past, the BRFS fireworks team had not submitted their application and, therefore, had not approved the funding.
Oyarzun noted the Town of Barrhead traditionally contributes $5,000 towards the New Year's Eve fireworks display, adding that in 2023, the county contributed $1,250, but due to increasing costs, the BRFS fireworks team is requesting $2,500.
The show's estimated cost is $8,500, with the majority being the cost of fireworks materials at $7,500, with the BRFS fireworks team donating 50 hours of labour valued at $1,000.
Oyazun said in subsequent years, the expense would be included as a potential line item in the municipal budget and discussed as part of council's annual budget deliberations.
Coun. Walter Preugschas asked if a contribution to the Canada Day fireworks would also be included in the budget as a potential line item.
Oyarzun said, as it stands, the answer was no but added that, ultimately, that is the council's decision. She then noted that traditionally, the county has not contributed to the Canada Day fireworks display.
Coun. Bill Lane interjected that while he could support contributing to the New Year's Eve fireworks display, he'd be hesitant to support the Canada Day show.
He noted that the show had often been scheduled too early when it was still daylight.
"I've got a lot of complaints about that," Lane said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
