Story:
The District of Sechelt committed to funding a community youth outreach worker at a cost of $60,563 at their Jan. 12 committee of the whole meeting.
The funding will come from the District's traffic fines revenue and will fulfill Sechelt's portion of the funding for a youth outreach worker for 2010 to 2012. Outreach workers will also be funded by other areas of the Coast under a memorandum of understanding with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
Dakota Ridge
The District of Sechelt says it will not earmark any more money for Dakota Ridge until they see a business plan for the recreation area.
A request to increase the amount taxpayers will pay into the service came to the committee of the whole meeting Jan. 12 from the SCRD and would see taxpayers pay $0.025/$1,000 of assessed value toward the regional service. Currently the taxation sits at $0.02/$1,000 of assessed value.
"When they came to us before, we said we wouldn't approve anything else without a business plan," said Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster.
Councillors were in agreement that they want to see a business plan before committing any more tax dollars to the winter recreation area. Council asked to see the business plan by Feb. 27, and if it approves of the plan, the tax increase will likely be supported.
Airport funds
District staff will be applying for a Towns for Tomorrow grant of up to $375,000 to help pay for a runway expansion at the Sechelt Airport.
The funding opportunity is just one piece of a funding scheme that needs to fall into place for Sechelt to access more than $1 million in Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) funding that was awarded for a runway extension in 2010. In order to secure the ICET funding, the District will have to demonstrate other levels of partnership in the project. The total estimated cost for the runway expansion project is about $4 million.
Sechelt's chief administrative officer Rob Bremner said the District is working "at the federal level to secure partnerships and funding."
There was also talk at the meeting of making the airport a regionally funded service, as it would be a benefit to the entire Sunshine Coast. Council moved to discuss the option further at the next strategic planning meeting.
Hockeyville
Council pledged their support to a Kraft Hockeyville 2011 application being submitted by the Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association at its Jan. 19 council meeting.
Council was supportive of the application and hope to see some money come to Sechelt for much needed arena repairs.
Presenter Jackie Lee-Coyle noted the association would earmark the money for the Sechelt arena as it currently needs approximately $375,000 in upgrades.
To submit your stories for Kraft Hockeyville 2011 and increase the Coast's chances of winning, go to www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockeyville/home.
