Time not on council’s side for funds

March 26, 2008

Time is the main enemy of any local applications for funding from the federal-provincial gas tax agreement.

At a special council meeting on March 17, district economic development officer Kathie LaForge presented council with a report on what projects might be acceptable for the General Strategic Priorities Fund.

"The key thing I see," she said, "is that the application has to have either a feasibility study including detailed cost estimates, or design details including detailed cost estimates."

The fund would provide up to 100 per cent of eligible costs for approved projects, and the deadline for applications is April 30.

LaForge suggested the Community Trail project would qualify for the funding, but didn't think there would be another segment ready to go forward by the deadline.

There was discussion about upgrading the lighting at the arena, and it was decided to look at pulling together the necessary information for the application.

LaForge will also try to get the information needed to put in an application for retrofitting local government buildings with new heating systems, such as geothermal.

LaForge said there was no indication of when funding decisions would be made, but considered it unlikely projects would be started before spring of 2009.