Town council has agreed provide a $500 donation to a fledgling Mount Forest-based radio station.
Treasurer Gordon Duff presented Minto council with a donation request from Saugeen Community Radio at the March 1 meeting.
The non-profit community station went on the air as 88.7 FM The River in September of 2015 and is currently operating out of a temporary location inside Plume’s Main Street Interiors in Mount Forest.
The station identifies its catchment area as northern Wellington and southern Grey counties.
A letter from station general manager Rob Mattice states, “Moving forward, while we hope all local businesses and municipalities will support the station through radio advertising and broadcasting of community messages, we are also hoping that the four local townships/municipalities of West Grey, Southgate, Minto and Wellington North would consider each donating $500 in order for us to purchase two premium broadcast on-air microphones …
“This equipment is critical to the on-air operation of the station and currently we are using a microphone that has been temporarily loaned to us by a generous local citizen and supporter.”
Mattice added, “In total our budget for equipment totals upwards to $100,000 and while this is not all required on day one, we have to-date been able to purchase approximately half of our requirements. This has enabled us to start broadcasting and to start generating revenue.”
The town’s donation policy allows contributions up to $300 without requiring a council report. The policy states donations may go to “not-for-profit” organizations “providing services or products that benefit the town.”
“Staff has reviewed the requests and is prepared to support a donation in the amount of $500,” states a report from Duff, which also recommends the municipality “consider incorporating 88.7 FM The River in its advertising budgets.”
“I know some neighbours have committed a large amount of advertising (Wellington North purchased an $8,000 advertising package on the station),” said Duff.
“We really strike advertising budgets as a whole and don’t like to tie up who to buy from.”
Council approved the $500 donation and agreed to consider advertising with the station.
