The Town of Battleford will not be granting a request from the Twin Rivers Curling Club, operating out of the Northland Power Curling Centre in North Battleford, for an additional $10,000 to help pay their 2016-17 season operating costs.
Monday evening, councillors agreed Battleford's support of the curling club is already taken care of by way of its annual $160,000 recreation grant paid to the City of North Battleford.
"I think it's been covered," said Mayor Derek Mahon.
The recreation grant dates back to March 2010 when the Town announced a $100 per house, $200 per business regional recreation levy to raise about $160,000 per year for 10 years to pass on to the City of North Battleford. It was to be put toward projects deemed to be beneficial to the region and that provided service to town residents on a symmetrical basis. While those dollars were widely considered the Town's contribution to the CUplex, the recreation funding was not specifically earmarked so by the Town.
Monday evening, the councillors received a letter from Twin Rivers Curling Club President Richard Pratchler, asking for a $10,000 grant to go towards utility costs and equipment costs in the building as well as "ensuring the viability of curling in the Battlefords community and offering people of all ages the opportunity to continue in the sport."
The letter stated they had received a grant from the City of North Battleford that has put the club in a better financial picture. City documents show that grant to be $50,000. In addition, in January of this year, city councillors unanimously passed a resolution calling for the building commitment agreement between Twin Rivers and the City to be amended so the $250,000 committed to the City could be made in 10 annual payments and that interest charges of $38,000 would be waived. The club is also working with the City on increased utility cost saving and energy savings upgrades.
Still, the letter to Battleford town council Monday stated "the operation of the facility has been a financial burden and is requiring approximately 50 per cent of our budget for utilities and equipment," and it will need more operational grants in the future.
The letter went on to state, "Utility costs alone have gone up three fold from the previous arena. We have previously used our reserve funds to pay for any shortfalls during the season."
Twin Rivers Curling Club was formed in 2012 when the Battleford Community Curling Club and the North Battleford Granite Club (which had been curling out of the Battleford rink since the Granite building was torn down in 2008) amalgamated and moved into the Northland Power Curling Centre in the CUplex.
The club is in a lease position with the City of North Battleford.
In its request to Battleford town council, the club pointed out that 18 per cent of its users live in Battleford.
"Going forward with our 2016-17 budget and due to the increased costs of operating this facility in the future we would have had no choice but to disband by the end of the 2016-17 season without the support of both the Town of Battleford and City of North Battleford," stated the letter.
In his letter, Pratchlor indicated the Twin Rivers has been struggling with a transition.
"The club has previously always thought of itself as a club and is now striving to transform to a business. We have moved from the club owning their own building and only open six months of the year to a City-owned building operating all year round," stated the letter. "As with all new businesses there have been growing pains such as dealing with the restaurant changing directions three times in the last four years and having a large turnover rate in staffing."
But things seem to be on the upswing in those areas, the letter indicated.
"We are now in a position with more stability in these areas that we can focus on expansion of our business model and work towards success."
Positive achievements mentioned in the letter included an increase in membership following a membership drive, an increase in junior and high school curling, income earned from facility rentals and hosting events.
They also have a number of fundraising projects.
"The curling club has actively fundraised for a number of years," stated the letter. "We have continued fundraisers such as running the fair booth, the 50/50 for North Stars games, working at the concession at the Civic Centre and, this past year, have added a steak and lobster dinner. We are going to continue to brainstorm other feasible opportunities, keeping in mind other fundraisers that are going on by other organizations in the Battlefords."
The letter also stated changes have been made at the executive level to change the thinking from club-focused decision making and planning to a business-focused decision and planning process.
"This past fall we have changed our bylaw to allow up to one third of the executive to be non-curlers with the plan to have some non-curlers run in next year's elections for board members. This past year we have brought on a number of new board members with business experience," Pratchler's letter stated.
