Left: Kerilyn Voigt and Kali Weber (right) (Dekker Centre); right top: Chad Gartner and Dana Johnson (far right); and right lower: Gartner and Warren Williams (NB Golf and Country Club). (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

2023 grant requests

Dekker Centre, NB Golf & Country Club, and Battlefords Transit present 2023 asks

Oct 26, 2022 | 5:56 PM

Three delegations presented their 2023 budgetary asks at North Battleford council’s meeting this week – The Dekker Centre, The North Battleford Golf and Country Club, and Battlefords Transit.

The Dekker Centre’s general manager Kali Weber said the non-profit is requesting an annual operating grant of $235,000 from the city for 2023, the same amount it asked for each year since 2017.

She said among the plans ahead next year is to hire a third full-time position, known as the patron experience manager. The creation of the new position would then allow Weber more time to focus on strategic initiatives, such as work on fund development, creating new partnerships, and increasing community engagement, with the aim to bring in more revenue.

Weber said the Dekker Centre’s 2023 budget is targeted to reach its revenue goals.

Mayor David Gillan appreciated the presentation.

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“We hope you meet your targets this year, and we hope your recruitment goes well,” he said.

The North Battleford Golf and Country Club’s president Chad Gartner and director of golf Dana Johnson presented for their organization. The golf club is again asking for $75,000 from the city, which would help with its capital costs for equipment and other fees. The funding would be used for such items as costs for mowing equipment, a utility vehicle, and repairs to the clubhouse roof, for example.

Gartner said the golf course is world-class, bringing many tourists to the area.

“I want to thank the city for their support in the past, and ask for it again moving forward,” he said.

Johnson said the golf club’s numbers for rounds of golf are a little lower this year because it did not start the season until April 29. He added the excessive heat over part of the summer also impacted numbers.

“All in all, we have had still a pretty good year,” he said.

Coun. Bill Ironstand mentioned he would like to see it easier for non-members to find tee times for games, after hearing concerns from some people.

Johnson said the club will review its tee-time intervals to look at the issue to see if it can try to accommodate more people wherever possible.

“Keep phoning us; there may be a cancellation,” he added, as a reminder to the public. “Not every day we’re full.”

For Battlefords Transit System, which includes the Battlefords Handi-Bus System and North Battleford Public Transit, transit manager Liana Clinton, appearing virtually, requested $343,666 for 2023 for operating costs, which is $8,362 more than the 2022 grant.

Clinton discussed The Battlefords Transit System 2023 budget during her presentation.

She said the increase in the ask from the city is due to a number of factors, including a rise in employee wages.

“This increase should help immensely with the recruitment and retention of drivers,” Clinton said.

She added the added ask was also needed as the organization received less funding for its Transit Assistance For People With Disabilities Program.

Coun. Greg Lightfoot said one of the biggest costs for transit operations is fuel and maintenance. He said the city will continue to advocate for provincial and federal funding to help with costs.

North Battleford city council will discuss all the various grant requests, as part of the city’s 2023 budget deliberation meeting process that starts in November.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow