Council has agreed to a 50 per cent reduction in hall rental fees for an upcoming community craft show.
Country Christmas Community Craft Show committee member Mary Miller presented a request at the May 13 meeting, asking council to consider “waiving some fees or lowering them,” in support of the 2014 event, which is scheduled for Nov. 22.
“The aim of the craft show is to showcase our local talent… we have a lot of local vendors and talent in the area,” Miller explained.
The committee attempts to keep expenses to a minimum in order to donate the proceeds to organizations benefiting local youth. In the past the group has donated to the MAX committee, minor hockey, minor ball, figure skating, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and the Drayton Youth Centre.
The group has 39 spaces for vendors, which are offered first to local vendors at $20 apiece.
“We are very low budget; we have no money to start with,” said Miller, who noted admission to the event is a donation to the local food bank.
Miller told council the event usually raises about $1,500 for local youth organizations. She said the event is not dependant on council waiving or reducing the rental fee for the use of the hall at the PMD Arena Complex.
“It will go on whether you do or not, we just won’t have as much money to donate,” she said.
After hearing the presentation, councillor Jim Curry recommended reducing the $475 rental rate by 50%.
“There’s been a lot in the Newspaper about losing thousands of dollars (in waived hall fees), but most of it goes back to local (causes),” said Curry.
A staff report presented at the April 22 council meeting revealed the township has waived more than $12,000 in rental fees by not charging organizers of the Drayton Kinsmen Farm Show or the Palmerston Hospital Foundation Starlight Gala for use of facilities this spring.
At the same meeting, CAO Patty Sinnamon reported the Moorefield Optimists and Drayton Kinsmen had withdrawn a request for council to waive fees, estimated at about $2,100, for the upcoming Mapleton Rodeo.
Councillor Andy Knetsch supported reduction.
“That’s the dilemma that we face more and more as a township … we try to run this as a business, yet we did a branding exercise in the township not too long ago and among the comments was that people really appreciate the volunteerism in our community,” he noted.
However, Knetsch acknowledged there would be costs to the municipality for staffing related to the show, so he favoured the fee reduction, rather than a full waiver.
Councillor Neil Driscoll said, “I support you 100%, but I have trouble waiving the fees.” He pointed out the township may have to forego a full rate rental in order to accommodate the craft show.
“I think it’s a great cause but I’m just looking at what you charge people to come in to your show. Even if you were to get another $10 from exhibitors that would cover your rental,” said Driscoll.
The resolution to reduce the rental rate by 50% was approved, with Curry and Knetsch in favor and Driscoll opposed. Councillor Mike Downey was absent.
