Grants-in-aid requests to the Township of Spallumcheen will be discussed during the township’s upcoming budget deliberations.
Seven organizations, including O’Keefe Ranch, have applied for $28,950 in grants-in-aid funding. That includes a request of $20,000 – nearly 70 per cent of the total requests – from the ranch for St. Anne’s Church restoration and supporting event expansion.
The township’s grants-in-aid policy states organizations are to be considered for either grants-in-aid or permissive tax exemptions, but not both, though chief financial officer Amy Vienneau said in a report to council that the requirement has been forgiven in the past.
O’Keefe Ranch is the only grants-in-aid applicant to receive a 2017 permissive tax exemption.
“I think it’s important to show solidarity with O’Keefe Ranch,” said Coun. Andrew Casson, the township’s appointed ranch representative. “It’s challenging for the ranch to acquire grants from other entities when it looks like it doesn’t have support from its local council.”
Also applying for grants-in-aid are the Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery ($3,500); Armstrong Spallumcheen Arts Council Society (SPARC - $2,000); Okanagan Boys and Girls Club ($1,500); Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department ($750); Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce ($700); Great Pumpkin Run and Walk ($500).
Office upgrade
Spallumcheen’s municipal office will get some upgrades.
Council supported a recommendation to add $17,500 to the previously approved $9,000 budget to complete its 2016 town hall refresh project.
The added costs include installing a new baseboard, door and window trim.