It still remains to be seen whether town council will fulfill the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship’s request for $10,000 in funding to cover the loss of its “Reel Raffle” this year.
Councillors agreed at Monday night’s meeting that the issue should go back to the Administration and Finance executive committee on account of needing more information on whether the “Reel Raffle” can be saved, and how much the town already is assisting the bass tournament.
“I’ve been working with one the local service clubs to see if they want to pick up the existing ‘Reel Raffle,’” noted Clerk Glenn Treftlin. “And the final decision was that were not prepared to do that at this time.”
But he added the service club did indicate there still “may an opportunity to fund the [bass] tournament with lottery-based funds.”
“So, in a nutshell, the request for funding is on the table,” said Coun. Roy Avis, adding the Administration and Finance committee has not yet made any decisions because it needs more information.
“This is a really important community event and I think we need to support it. It’s our premiere summer event,” said Coun. Todd Hamilton.
But that said, Coun. Hamilton noted the Administration and Finance executive committee also has been discussing what the town already has committed to help the bass tournament.
For instance, in the current draft of the town’s 2005 budget, money has been set aside to repair the boat ramp at the Sorting Gap Marina this year, as well as possibly install permanent tent pegs at the tourney site.
These are in addition to the use of barriers, free landfill tipping, and other concessions the town makes year after year.
“We’ll send this back to committee, get the proper information, and make a recommendation,” vowed Coun. Avis.
“There’s an opportunity out there we don’t have answers to,” noted Mayor Dan Onichuk. “We have to make a decision.
“Moving ahead with it—I understand the request and the importance of it—but boy, we’ll have a lineup, be it Fun in the Sun, you name it,” he added, noting the town already donates in-kind services to many community events.
In related news, town council approved a letter calling on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to review how it determines the eligibility of organizations applying for lottery licences and its definition of “charitable organizations.”
Council also approved a resolution calling on the province to look at legislation since it currently denies municipalities the eligibility to obtain a lottery licence or acquire revenue for disbursement from the proceeds of a lottery.
These resolutions will be forwarded to the Rainy River District Municipal Association for support, as well as the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, which will distribute it to municipalities elsewhere in the province.
Fort Frances Times
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