Council here has agreed to waive rental fees for the use of the PMD Community Centre for the 2014 Drayton Kinsmen Farm Show.
However, a decision on a similar fee waiver for the Kinsmen and the Moorefield Optimists for the Mapleton Rodeo was deferred, pending further discussions between the town and the clubs.
Council was presented with requests for facility fee waivers for both events at its Jan. 28 meeting.
“As many of you know, there are two proud organizations that are putting money back into the community … helping out as much as possible,” noted Corey Dobben, who presented the requests on behalf of both groups at the meeting.
Councillor Neil Driscoll, who is also a Moorefield Optimist member, said the groups did not ask for a relief from hall rental fees for last year’s inaugural rodeo, recognizing that township staff provided considerable organizational assistance in advance of the event.
“At the time our committee said, ‘Let’s pay the fee.’ Now as a committee we’re looking at – how can we make more money?” said Driscoll.
Mayor Bruce Whale pointed out council is often faced with requests for fee waivers from groups holding fundraising events at municipal facilities.
“They are there for public use, but we have to try to cover as much of our operating costs as we can, which is almost impossible. Still, they are there for the good of the community,” said Whale. “If we start making exceptions sometimes it opens a door for every group in the municipality to be asking for the same and it sometimes becomes a difficulty.”
Whale suggested the fee waiver requests could be deferred until staff and service club representatives had a chance to meet and discuss how the events would be handled under the new municipal alcohol policy.
“I think that might be a good meeting to have first,” agreed Driscoll.
The policy, which went into effect last October, provides a larger share of alcohol revenue for service clubs, than for other groups.
For most fundraising events, including stag and does, a price of $4 per drink is charged, with 80 cents per drink going to the fundraising organization. However, when the event involves a service club or other organization designated under the policy, Mapleton provides a cash donation of $1.80 per drink sold to the fundraising organization.
Corey Dobben stressed that all proceeds from the rodeo, farm show and other service club events go back into the community, so club members question the point of paying the municipality for hall rental fees.
“I look at the fact we donated $5,000 to the washroom renovations at the park and wonder, so why are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?” commented Moorefield Optimist president Ben Dobbin.
Whale explained the township is striving for consistency in its fee policy.
“The last time we reviewed it, staff felt the cleanest way was: we have a fee, we don’t deviate from that. And really, that money’s going back into the community itself,” said Whale.
Driscoll questioned why the township donates the use of the PMD Community Centre for the Palmerston and District Hospital Gala, but not the Drayton Kinsmen Farm Show.
“I view the farm show the same as the gala. The gala is given our facility and I don’t see why the Kinsmen don’t have that same right,” Driscoll stated.
Councillor Andy Knetsch noted the inconsistency of fee application results in more requests for waivers.
“If I’m doing a fundraiser and I hear there’s two groups who are getting a freebie, then I’m going to be saying ‘what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,’” said Knetsch.
Councillor Mike Downey said fee waiver requests always create a dilemma for council.
“We can forgo the rent, or we can pay to do the stuff that they (service groups) do for no charge,” Downey said, adding he felt the farm show could be exempted from hall rental fees because of its broad impact on the community.
“I would suggest that we call it an economic development festival – then it’s covered – because it puts Drayton on the map.”
Whale suggested, “Maybe a more appropriate way would be to say the Drayton Kinsmen are added to our list of exemptions.”
CAO Patty Sinnamon agreed there is a case to be made for a waiver of fees for the Optimists and the Kinsmen.
“We deal with these (requests), every year. A service club such as Kinsmen or the Optimists – that’s different than, for example, minor Sports, that’s for the benefit of those who register,” she commented.
However, Knetsch cautioned against making decisions for taxpayers on what groups they want to support.
“The reality too, is that somebody could have a different passion, – perhaps the drop-in centre or the fire department may have something on the go. So I’m saying, if we’re doing it for this particular group, we have to be prepared to do it for everybody.”
Corey Dobben said, “The way I look at it is between each different group it really depends on what they are doing with it and what they are doing with the dollars that they raise – if it benefits the whole community, or does it benefit just a certain aspect of the community?”
“I agree – but to what level do we have to scrutinize?” Whale wondered. “Do we have to ask for financial records so we can say, yes, I can see 90 per cent of the money is going back into the community?”
Whale continued, “I think there is some interest in reviewing this policy, but we can’t delay because the farm show is coming up and the rodeo is not that far off either.”
Whale suggested council make a decision on the farm show request right away and direct staff to meet with the service groups regarding the use of the facilities in Moorefield for the rodeo, “and maybe bring a request back to council.”
A motion to waive the hall fee for the April 2 and 3 farm show passed unopposed.
