Council makes decisions on annual Grant in Aid applications

The Town of Osoyoos outlined the 2005 Grants in Aid applications at the Feb. 21 council meeting.
Town council makes the final decision on grant applications, but recommendations to council are received from the town's finance committee, which analyzes each of the applications.
Osoyoos Museum asked for $30,000 but the finance committee felt the request fell outside the jurisdiction of Grants in Aid and recommended the request be reviewed during upcoming Planning and Priorities meetings.
Winter Carnival Society also did not qualify for a Grant in Aid.
Their request was in the amount of $1,500. It was felt that although the society received $1,000 in funding in their start-up year, they should not be receiving an ongoing grant.
Both the Royal Canadian Legion and the Osoyoos Elks Lodge requested that the mayor and council pass a resolution to exempt them from the municipal portion of taxes.
Council agreed, saying that because both organizations provide a lot of funding for community events the resolution should be passed.
The mayor and council approved the following Grants in Aid:rn-Osoyoos Festival Society: granted $3,500 for new banners and refurbishing their float.
-Osoyoos Desert Society: asked for $5,000 but council felt that half ($2,500) was an appropriate amount. The money was requested for front entrance improvements.
-Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society: granted $500 to help in paying of insurance and operating costs.
-Osoyoos Royalty: asked for $5,000. Finance committee recommended $4,000 in the form of bursaries and travel expenses.
-Osoyoos Fireworks: granted $2,000. Council agreed that the Town of Osoyoos fireworks are a worthwhile and hugely popular event.
-Community Float Society: granted $2,000 for travel and refurbishing float.
-Chamber of Commerce – Farmers Market: granted $1,300 as a one-time grant towards the start-up of the program. Council agreed that this was a good use of funds and falls within the requirements of Grants in Aid.
-Citizens on Patrol: granted $1,000 to cover operating costs. The work performed by Citizens on Patrol on behalf of all citizens was recognized as a worthwhile thing for the town to contribute to.
The following Grants in Aid were denied:rn-Osoyoos Senior Centre and Osoyoos Lawn Bowling: both are believed to have good balance sheets and could do it themselves. They had requested funding for a new awning.
-Osoyoos Child Care Centre: requested funds to augment their playground equipment. They were denied because it was felt that the centre benefits only a special or specific group and not the town as a whole.
-Osoyoos Arts Council: denied a grant because they have significant funds and because they have the use of the building, free of charge.
-Desert Sun Counselling: denied because it was felt that they did not benefit the town as a whole.
-Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club: denied because they did not provide the additional financial info needed by the deadline and therefore their application was incomplete.
-Osoyoos Secondary School Breakfast Program: denied because, although it was agreed that this is a worthwhile program, it should be supported by organizations like Parent Advisory Committee, rather than the town.
-Osoyoos Family Mental Health Support Society: denied funding because it was not even ranked in the top ten concerns of mental health associations and the committee felt that there were better places to spend taxpayer dollars.
Councillor Shields made a motion that the town re-visit the childcare centre grant because it is a place for all youngsters in the community, not just a specific group.
Shields added that the centre provides both early childhood education and a place for kids to go while their parents are working.
The council should consider recent news reports stressing the importance of keeping people active and the role of early childhood education in helping kids get better marks in school, said Shields.
There may be a way of dealing with this issue and ensuring that the equipment be accessible to all, not just the daycare centre, Mayor Slater said.
The town does support the childcare centre and supplies the land and building to them at zero cost. I do not want the public to get the impression that the town does not support the centre, councillor Flintoft stressed.
Councillor Davreux made a motion to accept the finance committee's report, seconded by councillor Flintoft.
The committee will further consider the issue of the childcare centre.