EAST CENTRAL — As part of its disbursement of donations, the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation gave $1.15 million to east central communities.
Humboldt received $800,000; Tisdale, Melfort and Nipawin $100,000 each; and Zenon Park $50,000.
Tisdale council was surprised to receive $100,000 from the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation.
“It was a very friendly surprise that we had this money that was given to us, we surprised to have that coming,” said Trent Markwart, deputy mayor of Tisdale at their council meeting on March 11. “Now we just have to decide what to do with the money.”
The money can be allocated to anything the town wishes, without specific limitations.
Markwart said that while they don’t have a specific plan yet for the money, they intend to use it in the public’s best interest.
Melfort is planning to first bring it to their community services committee to figure out what to do with the money.
“Where exactly that money will be allocated to, or what it will be spent on hasn’t been decided,” said Rick Lang, Melfort’s mayor. “That will be going to community services, there will be recommendations brought to that committee meeting and then there will be a committee of the whole scheduled so that all of the councillors have some input as to the final decision.
“We’re going to have to decide the perimeters of what is appropriate for the $100,000 donation. Is it something that should be somewhat related to STARS, or is it somewhere that should be more related to some medical services, or is it something that should be related to be beneficial to the entire community?”
Lang said he first found out about the donation on March 9.
“It was a surprising shock.”
