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Fines on Marshall Fields

Funding in limbo for gymnastics society

Mar 12, 2019 | 3:38 PM

Possible funding for the North Valley Gymnastics Society from the City of Vernon has once again stalled.

The organization previously approached council in February to ask for a $75,000 grant, but under the city’s Discretionary Grant Program, organizations are only allowed a maximum of $25,000 in funding.

Grants are also available through a community grant but the program has not been active since 2012 and it would require approval in the 2020 budget.

Councillor Brian Quiring said that he is in support of the organization and believes that the facility is providing a great amenity to the community.

“I would like to find a way to give them what they are looking for, because they are a group that has, they are not just coming to us asking for money you know because they want to start something they have been in a process for quite a few years, they are a good group they have done alot of the heavy lifting already,”

Coun. Gares put forward a motion to reach out to the North Valley Gymnastics Society to see if they would be open to a repayable loan to the city. The motion was seconded by Coun. Quiring who also added to ask them to apply for the $25,000 grant due in April.

But some Councillors expressed concerns about how the tax dollars would be weighted considering other how communities like Coldstream would likely be using the facility.

” In past as we know Vernon has been stuck with grants that should of been regional that are not regional such as O’Keefe Ranch which Vernon only funds , Sunday Library which Vernon only funds so we have to be very careful and prudent with how we look at this from a taxpayer point of view,” said Coun. Mund.