Pool society provides updates

By J.W. Schnarr
Vauxhall Advance
jwschnarr@tabertimes.com

It was an opportunity for Vauxhall council to hear about the latest efforts from a local organization hoping to fund a new pool for the town.

During their regular meeting on March 2, council heard from members of the Friends of the Vauxhall Pool Society for an update on how the group has been faring with funding efforts and grant applications.

One update included some confusion surrounding how much funding had been pledged to the project by the Municipal District of Taber council as part of a letter of support request council signed last month for a grant which could mean as much as $350,000 going towards the pool.

To this point, however, the M.D. has not committed to any funding for the project, as the society has not come before M.D. council to make a funding request.

Chief Administrative Officer Cris Burns told the society Vauxhall administration had located the resolution allowing the M.D. to send the letter, but that he had been unable to find any documents of the perceived funding by the M.D.
“We’ve received a copy of the resolution but no actual number,” said Burns.

The society also took the opportunity to discuss advertising options to promote the efforts to raise money through the town. Mayor Margaret Plumtree said options such as a monthly newsletter and the town sign could be options worth exploring.

Currently, donations to the pool can be made through the town, and the society asked if there was a way to learn the names of donors, as they are planning something special to honour them.

Plumtree replied she was unsure of the privacy rules surrounding the donations, but would pass their request on to donors who stop by the town office.
“We can ask if people want their name released, so that the Friends of the Pool Society know who did the donation,” she said.

A question posed by the society was how close the project was to beginning. While some grants can be applied for only if construction has not begun, others must be applied for after construction begins. While it could be possible for a spring start, the consensus of council seemed to be that it would be best to have the funding figured out before a date was scheduled.

Finally, alternative funding options such as casinos were discussed with council, and ways that the society might be able to make use of them.

Anyone interested in donating to the Vauxhall Friends of the Pool Society to contribute to the building of Vauxhall’s new swimming pool may do so at the town office. The Town of Vauxhall is able to issue a receipt for donations.

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