Council has waived has a $300 limit on donations to allow a $500 contribution to the Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Association.
Council passed a resolution approving the larger donation after a presentation from association representative Marlene Ottens at the April 10 meeting.
Ottens said the group holds safety days for school children across the county and has a presence at various events promoting safety messages.
“We focus mostly on farm safety but we do touch on home safety and community safety as well,” Ottens told council.
“These activities require many volunteer hours and we repeat a lot of the same information. Nonetheless, children and adults continue to be injured on their farms. It’s a unique workplace, since it’s one of the few where children live on the job and the hazards are present 24/7. There sometimes is a generational attitude that if it worked okay for my dad and grandpa, I don’t have to do it differently. We especially focus on the Mennonite community, where there are often many children on one farm and sometimes a more casual attitude towards safety,” Ottens states in a written report to council.
“These activities also require funds, which the municipalities have generously contributed to each year,” she added.
Minto had earlier agreed to provide a $300 donation in response to the organizations request for $500.
“Our rules only allow $300,” explained Mayor George Bridge. “So we need a delegation when we go over.”
