In an editorial in April 2017, we said County of Barrhead councillors needed to decide where the line is when determining who to grant funding requests to.
At the time we were referring to a request from the Misty Ridge Ski Hill Society to the county for $10,000 to help cover outstanding payroll costs. In the end, councillors approved the request.
This is despite turning down many other community groups for a lot less money. The decision also flew in the face of the county’s philosophy that it does not contribute funds to the operation of organizations or facilities.
Fast forward 22 months and council finds itself in a similar position of having to decide whether or not to approve a funding request from the society, except this time it is for $50,000.
Granted this time it is for a capital expense, a new ski-lift, but in our mind, it is more of an operational cost, as the society is replacing a 35-year-old unit.
We also share Coun. Ron Kleinfeldt’s concern that this will not be the last request for funding council will receive from the society. Recreation facilities are expensive to operate at the best of times and the situation at Misty Ridge is far from perfect — as you read in our cover story, there is a substantial list of issues that the hill needs to resolve in the not-so-distant future.
Granting the request could potentially open the door for other funding requests, the first that comes to mind is the Neerlandia Sports Committee and their efforts to build a community hall and indoor ice-rink for the hamlet. Another ice-rink would be welcomed in the area. With the ice rink in Rich Valley down for the season groups are scrambling for ice-time.
If the county decides to fund Misty Ridge, on what argument would they have to turn down a request from the Neerlandia group if they made such a request?
This is why the county needs to have a set list of criteria to make these decisions. Councillors know this, but unfortunately, this policy will come too late to help them with this decision.
Complicating issues is what happens to Misty Ridge if the society ceases to exist.
In a Sept. 12, 2017 interview with the Barrhead Leader county manager Debbie Oyarzun stated that under the 1989 Dissolution Undertaking Agreement, in the event the society is dissolved, the county, with council approval, can assume operation of the facility, look for another society to operate it, or choose not to operate it. After two years from dissolution, the county has the right to sell the operation. If a buyer is not found, the county is required to return the land to its natural state, a potentially expensive proposition.
As you can see councillors have a tough decision to make, and we wish them luck.
