By Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region Township may be the amalgamation of former municipalities, but that doesn’t mean all sectors of the former municipalities have amalgamated.
There are three arenas within the township and each is operated by individual associations – Cobden Recreation Association, Beachburg Recreation Association and Westmeath and District Recreation Association. In the past few years, each have come to council asking for financial help for various reasons. Each of the recreation associations within the municipality, including the smaller ones, such as Foresters Falls, Queens Line and Snake River, each receive a grant, which includes a two per cent increase each year.
During the June 4 Culture Committee meeting for the township, chairman Deputy-Mayor Izett McBride noted he has brought the three arena managers together at the table to discuss what they expect from council. It has also been discussed about forming one association, but they each admitted their associations are not yet ready to take that step, he said.
“The operators realize there is not an endless supply of money,” he said.
Councillor Allen Dick noted two per cent isn’t much but realizes the importance of a tight budget. What disappoints him is the three recreation associations are not one.
“They are far apart on their thinking,” he said. “I realize they have their own issues, but it would be nicer if they could all agree to a common goal.”
As an example, he noted instead of going for a provincial grant of $15,000 for one arena, if they were to get together it could be a larger grant the township could apply for for the arenas.
“I thought through amalgamation, it would bring people together, but it hasn’t,” Coun. Dick said.
Councillor Joey Trimm said Westmeath’s association has a strategic plan for its facility and he’s hoping the other two, Cobden and Beachburg, would also get a plan done for their facilities.
“I would be in favour of providing a grant to the two associations who don’t have a strategic plan,” he said.
By each association having a plan, council, as well as the associations, would know what the goals are for the future of each arena, Coun. Trimm said.
Reeve Don Rathwell said if a major repair is required at any one of the three arenas, a two per cent increase won’t solve the financial problem.
“They need to come in with a policy for capital expenditures,” he said.
He has spoken with two of the arena managers, and both have indicated they want the status quo to remain in regards to individual associations.
“I hope they realize some day that will have to change,” he said. “There are no major problems right now, so we shouldn’t force them to do something they don’t want to do.”
Mayor Jim Labow said it must be noted each of the three associations are in competition with one another. While he’s not as familiar with Westmeath or Cobden, he noted the ice rental in Beachburg does not cover the costs of operating the arena.
This will not be a fully amalgamated township until there is one recreation director for the municipality, he said.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said the township can’t afford to pave its roads, and yet more money is going towards the recreation facilities, which is a concern to him.
The committee recommended council provide $16,000 in next year’s budget to allow for strategic plans to be developed by the Cobden and Beachburg rec associations. Council passed the recommendation at its June 11 meeting.
