Wellington North council has approved $25,500 in donations and waived $5,065 in fees to support community organizations and events.
The township received 28 applications, requesting almost $45,000, vying for $40,000 from the council-approved Grants and Donations Community Development Fund.
The applications were reviewed by staff and 25 were recommended for funding and three recommended for further discussion by council.
“The Township of Wellington North values the important role that not-for-profit community organizations and community groups play in delivering events and projects that support our community and in December 2016 approved the following funding streams as a way to support these organizations,” said economic development officer Dale Small in his April 24 report to council.
Council donated a total of $25,500, split between:
– the Arthur Agricultural Society;
– Arthur and District Horticultural Society;
– Arthur and Area Horticultural Youth Society;
– Arthur Opti-Mrs Club;
– Get in Touch for Hutch;
– Mount Forest Agricultural Society;
– Mount Forest Community Pantry;
– Mount Forest and District Arts Council;
– Mount Forest District Chamber of Commerce;
– Mount Forest District Fireworks Festival;
– Mount Forest Horticultural Society;
– Mount Forest Lions Club;
– Mount Forest Optimist Club;
– Wellington Heights Secondary School Scholarships;
– Wellington County Farm and Home Safety; and
– Wellington North Health Professional Recruitment.
Council waived fees amounting to $5,065 to:
– the Arthur Lions Club;
– Arthur Lions Club and the Churches of Arthur;
– Arthur Terry Fox organization;
– fire chief’s gala;
– Little Black Dress Affair;
– Mount Forest minor ball three-day tournament; and
– Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
Requests for funding from Mission Butterfly, Mount Forest Patriots Junior C Hockey Club and Ramoth Life Centre of Mount Forest totalling $11,600 were denied by council.
“The intent with the grants and donations program is more to cover projects and events and this doesn’t necessarily fall within those parameters,” said Small.
Mayor Andy Lennox added, “There’s many worthwhile causes in our community, many more than are listed here. I think we have to stick what we were intending to do with these dollars. I think we can’t support these applications based on that.”
Council directed staff to investigate the Patriots’ request regarding the installation of cameras for live streaming as part of the recreation department budget.
