WHITEWATER REGION (Westmeath) — Whitewater Region council is hopeful grants the Westmeath and District Recreation Association have applied for are approved.
The ramp and stairs going to the community hall above the rink need to be replaced. They were replaced this past summer with wood, however, it’s expected they may only last for two to three years.
Brenda Grady and Neil Nicholson, president and vice-president respectively of the WDRA, along with Bob Grylls, grants co-ordinator, spoke to council at its meeting last night, about six items regarding the stairs and ramp.
With $12,000 from council, the ramp and stairs were replaced with wood, since the steel had deteriorated to a place where they couldn’t be fixed, Mr. Nicholson recalled. The engineer, Jp2g and Doug Schultz, the township’s building official, gave approval that the ramp and stairs could be used again.
However, what won’t be known for a while is whether the surface will remain safe or, since it’s wood, will become slippery when wet, such as from frost, he said.
The WDRA has applied for a $513,000 grant from the Enabling Access Grant provided by the federal government, Mr. Nicholson said. This funding, if approved, will go towards the stairs, ramp, washrooms, bar and kitchen areas, he said.
Mr. Grylls was contacted regarding the grant asking for a letter of support from council, which he received. He’s expecting to hear shortly if the WDRA made the short-list for funding. If it gets onto the short-list, he’s expecting to hear by year’s end if it’s going to receive funding.
The WDRA had applied for funding from Farm Credit Corporation to replace windows at the end of the rink, both the top and bottom, however, were not successful, Mr. Nicholson said.
The grant for $28,000 to replace the dishwasher and fire panel was approved and spent. The $8,000 dishwasher was installed, and it’s greatly appreciated that it’s waist height, which means those using it don’t have to bend over too far, Mr. Nicholson said.
The fire panel was replaced and updated and now meets all current requirements, he said.
The WDRA has applied for an Ontario Trillium Grant, which would go towards the stairs and ramp, Mr. Nicholson said. He noted there are more than 12,000 people who used the ramp in a year, and if it were a better ramp, more people would come to the community hall.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski has been invited to Westmeath in hopes of “strongly influencing him” to ensure the WDRA gets some funding, Mr. Nicholson said.
It would also be a good time to recognize him for helping with funding for the singing group that was formed, added Mr. Grylls.
Mr. Nicholson said the WDRA did not apply for the current round of the Community Partnership Grant program offered by the township, because it had received funding at the first intake in September. However, he did advise, the application would be in for next March, again.
Councillor Chris Olmstead thanked the WDRA for all the work it does. He also stressed that as chairman of community services, which includes all the arenas, there has never been any discussion about the possibility of closing any arena in the township.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.
Thousands of dollars have been spent in both Beachburg and Westmeath and there is “zero interest in closing either of them,” Coun. Olmstead added. “We are looking for new users. We want all three arenas to remain vital and used, the halls, the ice surface. We want to help keep all three viable.”
Mayor Hal Johnson recalled it was a year ago when public meetings were held and the opinion was to keep all three arenas opened.
“We decided it was time to take the bull by the horns,” he said.
Westmeath has huge involvement through the Riverview Seniors Social Club and the WDRA, he said.
“We are extremely impressed with what’s taking place in Westmeath,” the mayor added.
It’s imperative the arenas remain viable, because it’s how our community thrives and grows, with bringing people into the community.
