Just what services should a resident expect from a municipality?
That is the question we find ourselves asking after Woodlands County approved a $1,000 donation to help the Sabre Cheer Spirit All-Star Cheerleading Club’s Wildcats cheer team attend the U.S. Cheer and Dance Finals in Las Vegas, as you will read on Page A5.
While we agree that part of a municipality’s job is to create recreational and cultural activities for its residents through facilities and programs, we are not sure we agree with the council’s personal recreational choices.
In the last year and a half, Woodlands County council has given $3,000 to individuals who have qualified to be part of a sporting event.
That includes Bessie Stevens, a Fort Assiniboine senior who qualified in golf for the Canada 55 Plus Games in St. John, New Brunswick; Anselmo teen and Mayerthorpe High School Makayla Faoro, who qualified to play for Canada in the Czech Challenge Cup this summer; and Blue Ridge Boxing Club coach Perry Sawyer, who was named to Team Alberta’s coaching staff for the Canada Winter Games in February.
Our question is: why should municipal ratepayers subsidize their choice of activities, regardless of how good they are at it?
Whitecourt East Coun. Jim Rennie said there could not be a better investment in our community than to support Woodlands County residents who promote not only themselves but through association their community.
He made the comment during a discussion on a proposed achievement recognition policy where residents and individuals who qualify to attend a sporting or cultural event at a provincial, national or international level.
While we applaud those individuals who by talent, work and perseverance achieve prominence, it was their choice to do so. Just because a person enrolls in [fill in the blank], goes to a competition and then is invited to take part in another prestigious event doesn’t mean the county should contribute to the trip.
We also believe there are better ways to spend the funds and ones that will benefit more people. Yes, in the big picture, the amounts being considered ($50, $300 and $500 per person for a provincial, national or international level event) don’t amount to much.
But then again, due to the financial constraints being put on the county, perhaps now isn’t the time to start subsidizing individual pursuits.
After all, it wasn’t too long ago when the county said unless it finds a way to recoup $4.3 million in unpaid taxes for 2018, they would be facing potential bankruptcy by 2021.
