Rural communities got a boost after Stettler County Council unanimously approved $51,700 in recreational funding.
Five projects will share the funding with: Linda Hall to get $8,840 for its community hall renovations; Byemoor Community Hall will receive $8,400 for renovations to its community hall; Donalda School Parent Council will see $21,000 for a new playground; the Sullivan Lake West Ag. Society will get $3,480 to put shale on its baseball diamonds; and the Erskine Curling Club will receive $10,000 for roof renovations.
“These are the projects that take top priority,” said Coun. Dave Grover.
The recommendations for which projects to fund were made by the county’s recreational board on Dec. 9 and brought to council Dec. 12 for approval. The money comes out of the county’s 2013-14 Recreation Special Project Reserve.
A couple of projects were of an emergency nature, such as hot water tank and furnace repairs for Donalda and Rochon Sands, but they can apply for emergency funding, said Coun. Grover.
The county received $173,234 in funding requests by Oct. 31 through its Special Project Funding program.
The recreation board has an operating reserve set up for emergency funding situations and no formal applications have been made yet for emergency funding, said Niki Thorsteinsson, director of communications for County of Stettler.
The next recreation board meeting is Feb. 3 and the Village of Rochon Sands may qualify for this funding to replace its hot-water tank, and the Donalda Ag Society to replace its bathroom and hall furnace.