By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
A change has been made for organizations that receive a yearly grant from the Town of Castor.
In a unanimous decision, council has voted in favour of changing the way grants are handled by the Town during their Feb. 10th meeting.
The changes require organizations to request their yearly grant in writing, which will then be brought before council. Written requests must outline the organization’s case for requiring the grant, what the funds will be used for, and potential benefits to the community.
Previously, the standing practice was for the Town to give out the grants at the beginning of each year automatically, without a request being made.
“In the past, we gave the money, and that’s what they’re expecting,” said Chief Administrative Officer Christopher Robblee to council.
The move is being made to increase the transparency of what the Town does give for grants and it’s a move that council agreed with.
“Members in the community need to know what they (the organizations) are getting,” said Coun. Rod Zinger.
Coun. Trudy Kilner agreed, saying, “People don’t understand how much the Town does give.”
Recreation Fees
Council has also approved the Recreation Board 2020 summer fees, and summer recreation in Castor will be seeing a modest increase for the summer season.
Baseball fees will start at $35 for the ‘Learn to Play’ level, and increase with the player’s age, topping out at $80 for adult ladies.
At the swimming pool, the rates have increased slightly as well, with children under the age of seven-years-old costing $3 for a single swim.
Ages seven to 17 will cost $4 for a single swim, and adults ages 18 to 64 will pay $5 for admission for a single swim. Day passes and punch cards are available as well.
Also, back at the pool for its third year will be the Book-a-buddy program.
This program allows parents to book a member of the Junior Lifeguard Club, or other “age appropriately aged individual” to accompany children eight years of age or under into the pool.
The cost for this service is $15 plus the cost of the child’s admission.