At the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday, two community groups stepped forward to get the City on side for projects where they are covering almost all the costs.
In a letter to Council the Godfrey Dean Gallery explained "a new program called the Community Vitality Fund was recently announced under the provincial Cultural Initiative Fund. The Small Capital Projects component will provide 50 per cent (up to maximum of $50,000) of eligible costs of capital projects that enhance the quality, accessibility and use of community facilities."
The three tenant organization of the Centre, the Gallery, Yorkton Film Festival and Yorkton Arts Council, would take on the responsibility of raising the remaining 50 per cent of the funding.
The Yorkton Pirates Tennis Club also made a presentation. The Club was seeking support to progress with a lighting project at one of the tennis courts near the Western Development Museum in the city.
The tennis club through club resources, private donations and member labour will install outdoor overhead lighting.
In this case the City will be responsible for actual power consumption costs moving forward, but those are rather smaller in light of what the lights will mean in terms of added recreation hours.
In both instances Council was quick to offer unanimous support for the respective projects, and with good cause.
Anytime facilities in the city can be enhanced with no, or limited, municipal dollars involved, it's a pretty easy decision for Council to jump on side with their support.
In both cases the projects have been initiated by facility users.
The tennis club saw a demand from its members for more evening hours to play tennis in spring and fall, and realized funding lights made sense.
The Gallery, as one of the Centre's three tenants realized the existing kitchen was out-of-date in terms of current food preparation regulations.
As Carol Bolt, chairperson of the Gallery Board of Director explained, "We just want to update it so we can actually cook and serve things from the kitchen, which we can't do now."
The two projects are examples of what community groups can achieve with what is basically the moral support of the City and Council.
There are times where groups too quickly look to the City to fund projects which might have a limited scope in terms of use. The tennis club has only 31 members, and while there are other tennis players in the city, municipal dollars might not be invested the most wisely in court lights.
That said, to support the club in its efforts, is a simple step for Council to take.
The way Council moved quickly to agree to the projects should be something other community groups take note of, because it is a way to improve facilities in ways group want, without having to wait for the City to find funds.
