Mapleton council is considering a request for a reduction in PMD arena complex rental fees for the 2016 Drayton Kinsmen Farm Show.
Chad Mackay of the Drayton Kinsmen attended the Feb. 9 council meeting to request council cap the fee for use of the facilities for the event, planned for March 30 and 31, at $2,600.
In 2015 the Kinsmen also requested, and council agreed to, a reduction of the fee to $2,600.
CAO Brad McRoberts advised council the normal rental cost for the two days would total $4,975. He also noted an amount similar to the group’s requested discount had been accounted for in the 2016 budget.
Mayor Neil Driscoll, whose business exhibits at the farm show, declared a conflict of interest on the issue. Councillor Dennis Craven was appointed mayor pro-tem during the discussion.
“We’ve heard for a long time the theatre (Drayton Entertainment) has put Drayton on the map, but I have a feeling that the farm show has put Drayton the map every bit as much,” said Craven.
Mackay pointed out the show generates a large percentage of the club’s income.
“The vast majority of our funding is derived from the farm show,” explained Mackay, adding, “all of the proceeds are spent in our community and we’re requesting the rental rate be reduced to $2,600 to allow us to dedicate more funds to various worthy causes that we support.”
Craven noted council has already had a few similar requests from other local organizations and said township staff have recommended council defer the request until the next meeting pending receipt of a staff report on a proposed donations policy.
“We want to encourage the farm show to continue for sure,” said Craven. “We just feel, and staff feel, that we should have a policy that we can look at when we get these requests.”
McRoberts explained that staff have also been looking at the operation of the Drayton Kinsmen Farm Show and “there might be some opportunity to work with them in terms of reducing our staff costs.”
Council agreed to defer the request to the next meeting, which will be held on March 8.
The Feb. 23 council meeting has been cancelled to allow council members to attend the annual Ontario Good Roads Association/Rural Ontario Municipal Association convention, which runs from Feb. 21 to 24 in Toronto.
