Museum to join Coaldale’s budget squad

Members of the Gem of the West Museum will hopefully be joining the ranks of Coaldale councillors come the next round of budget discussions, following a report given in last week’s meeting.

“(My) first Gem of the West meeting was two weeks ago and it was a bit of a hornet’s nest . . . there are some very happy people on that board of directors,” said Coun. Roger Hohm.

“Bottom line is after their discussions they would like to have the museum included in the budget discussions — same as the hockey rink and baseball diamonds . . . as a piece of infrastructure that this town owns and operates, and to be included in the town budget discussions as a piece of town property, which it is.”

Members of the museum’s board of directors have also asked Coun. Hohm to request a consistent budget of $30 to $40,000 for each fiscal year.

“They are having trouble paying for everything and keeping their heads above water. They are getting frustrated as a group of volunteers who want to do something,” Hohm explained.

“I think they would be very happy if they had an ongoing budget of $30 to $40,000 included in our annual budgeting process to hire staff and do other things outside of capital requests.”

Mayor Kim Craig added he had also met with museum board President Duncan Lloyd last week and said the town would be receiving their business plan, which was 90 per cent done and completed at the time.

The museum also has a few grants which need extending, one for $11,000 and one for $13,000. The town also stated they are willing to work with the museum board on these grants.

“When those grant dollars have to go back, in many cases if a county or someone were to give you a grant, once it’s in their hands I would think they could continue to use it,” Hohm said, of the received grant dollars.

Councillors agreed the need to ask for an extension on the grant dollars was apparent and carried the motion unanimously.

Get More Sunny South News →