A slew of returning grant applications were reviewed in Merritt’s council chambers on Feb 5, at the first of many budget meetings set to take place over the next few months.

Council dished out more than $65,000 in grants, approving funds for 25 of 36 applications it received from local non-profits and community groups.

The grants, either partial or in full, help fund services or programs that benefit the community as a whole. Many given the green light this year aim to support tourism, arts and culture and recreation in the Nicola Valley.

The Nicola Valley Community Arts Council received the funding it needs from the city to be eligible for a matching BC Arts Council grant. With a gift of $8,000 from the city, the arts council plans to continue their shows and events and develop a digital listing of artists in the Nicola Valley.

The Merritt Dance Society, Merritt Volleyball Association, Nicola Valley Skating Club, Merritt Country Run, Merritt Otters Swim Club and Merritt Mountain Bike Association all received funding to support their programs.

While the Nicola Valley Community Gardens Society was denied a multi-year request to hire a lead gardener ($10,000 was asked for this year), the organization was granted $2,428 to make the garden more accessible by raising the beds.

“Everything on this list is somebody’s dream, but we have to balance that out,” – Coun. Tony Luck

Council showed support for Merritt’s country roots at the meeting, approving grants for the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo Association ($10,000) High School Rodeo Association ($5,000) and Little Britches Rodeo Club ($1,000).

The Canadian Country Music Heritage Society also received a total of $3,125 to refurbish the Walk of Stars hand prints around town, reprint brochures that guide guests to the hand prints and mural locations, and to support their GALA fundraiser. However, a question of whether council wants to continue funding infrastructure such as the hand prints was raised at the meeting.

“When is a gift not a gift?” Asked Coun. Kurt Christopherson.

New Grants Nixed

There were six new requests for grants this year, and only one of them was approved — $1,660 for the Nicola Watershed Community Round Table to host two more public forums on water and flood mitigation.

A group of local residents discuss water management and flood mitigation at a recent forum hosted by the Nicola Watershed Community Round Table. (Dara Hill/Herald).

New applications turned down, or moved to be considered in different funding streams later in the budget process, included $10,000 for the Merritt Golf and Country Club for flood mitigation, equipment upgrades and course improvements. Council decided to revisit the request in a “larger conversation about flooding.”

Funding for an outdoor classroom at Collettville Elementary, as well as a transportation program and new dishwasher for the Merritt Senior’s Citizen Association, were also denied grant-in-aid funding.

“Everything on this list is somebody’s dream, but we have to balance that out,” said Coun. Tony Luck.

Two big-ticket requests stood out with with their hefty price tags: $48,000 for the Nicola Valley Agri Park Society to construct an equine centre and $40,000 for the Loggers Sports Show. Council declined to give any funds to the Nicola Valley Agri Park society, siting concerns over group’s lack of financial backing and incongruence with the purpose of the grant-in-aid program.

As for the Logger Sports Show, who requested $40,000 to enhance the carving competition and integrate the resulting carvings into the city, staff agreed on a $5,000 sponsorship. Council expressed concerns over long-term costs of taking care of the carvings.

“$40,000 is half a percent of tax increase, and these are taxpayers dollars that we are allocating tonight,” Kristopherson said. “We want to make sure we get the best benefit at the best price,” 

While it is not in the policy for 2019, council discussed adding a clause in for next year stating grant recipients must repay what they do not use.

The grants that received council’s favour on Tuesday will still need to receive final approval at an upcoming regular council meeting.