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Town of Barrhead agrees to waive Agrena rental fee for Focus on 4-H event

For the past two years Focus on 4-H has been held in Thorhild
Crop Don Smith
Town of Barrhead Coun. Don Smith said the 4-H Focus 2020 would be the perfect event for the County of Barrhead to get involved in. Barry Kerton B/L

BARRHEAD - With any luck, the first weekend of July next year will see hundreds of youth invade Barrhead for the annual Focus on 4-H event.

On Nov. 26, Town of Barrhead councillors unanimously agreed to waive the fees for using the Barrhead Agrena on either the July 3-5, or July 10-12 weekend in 2020 and the equivalent in 2021.

In a separate motion, councillors also approved giving event-goers a subsidized daily swim pass for a toonie.

Chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc said the town received a request from 4-H Alberta to reduce or waive the fee for the curling rink or ice arena for a three-day regional jamboree. The fee for the Agrena for a non-profit organization is $800 per day while the curling rink rate would be roughly $500 for a weekend.

Councillors discussion focused on the Agrena, as they felt it was a better fit for the event.

Focus on 4-H chair Tasha Erickson, in the information package that was included along with their request, noted the 4-H Northwest region hosts the annually, with a different every two years.

The region includes 12 operating districts — Lac Ste. Anne, Parkland, Evansburg, Yellowhead, Drayton Valley, Leduc, Sturgeon, Westlock, Thorhild, Athabasca and Barrhead — and has more than 60 4-H clubs with more than 1,100 members and 400 leaders.

For the last two years, it was in Thorhild. Focus 4-H also sent out bid packages to Whitecourt, Drayton Valley and Mayerthorpe.

In addition to the facility rental, other event requirements include camping for about 100 units, the stabling of 100 to 150 horses, access to wash racks as well as drinking water for animals, use of a hall for meals, dances or other activities.

LeBlanc noted Erickson has also been in touch with the Barrhead and District Agricultural Society.

Rather than waiving the fee, Coun. Rod Klumph suggested that councillors approve a cash donation or sponsorship which the group could put towards the facility rental.

“In the past, we have turned down requests to waive [recreational] fees, saying we would rather give them a cash donation,” he said. “The reason for that is that the facility needs to recoup its expenses.”

The most notable example of this being the table and chair rentals for June’s Street Fest, where council has given a monetary grant or subsidy to the organizing committee.

Council also has declined requests from groups looking to rent facilities. In May 2018, councillors denied a request to rent the Agrena’s indoor rink from the Glass Breakers hockey team for a charity ball hockey tournament.

One of the reasons why councillors turned down the request is that they were afraid they could potentially open the flood gate to similar requests.

“With the [toonie swim passes] and a $500 donation we are doing a good job of supporting the 4-H,” Klumph said.

He added that even if a small percentage of the event’s estimated 400 delegates, 250 youths and 150 volunteers, take advantage of the toonie pass over the three days, it would amount in a more than $2,000 subsidy.

Mayor Dave McKenzie agreed but pointed out what Focus 4-H was requesting was more of a bid rather than help with the facility rental.

“The [Town of Barrhead] along with the Ag Society is putting in a proposal to host this as opposed to a local group asking us to waive the fees,” he said.

Coun. Ty Assaf also believed the practice of providing subsidies was specifically to deal with local requests.

“This is a competition and I hate to see us lose it and the economic spin-offs over $500,” he said.

Coun. Dausen Kluin said he agreed with waiving the rental fee, noting this is the type of event the community should be hosting.

“It would be a great way to show off our town to agricultural minded young people, who could potentially come into our community when they get older and start a business or a farm,” he said.

Coun. Don Smith suggested they should contact the County of Barrhead and invite them to participate.

“This is the type of event that benefits the entire community ... In the future, these are the types of conversations we need to have. I know these things can come up pretty quick, but when they do we should have a mechanism so that we involve each other,” he said, adding he planned to put it on the agenda for the municipalities’ joint council meeting on Dec. 9.

LeBlanc said the county is aware of the bid and has offered to help by providing in-kind services, such as the use of equipment.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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