At the most recent regular Rocanville town council meeting the council passed a motion to donate funds to the curling rink after a request was made.
Having already given a $5,000 grant to the curling club earlier in the year, the council decided a good way to drum up attention for the rink would be a funds matching grant.
With this plan, the curling rink will be raising money from personal donations that go to re-establishing the rink and the Town of Rocanville will match the total donations raised from Rocanville residents up to $5,000. This plan will go forward if the curling rink agrees to it.
“Rather than just donating them money like last time, why don’t we do a matching grant up to $5,000,” said Councillor Stan Langley. “That way it will get some local attention and if Rocanville residents make personal donations and hit $5,000 then the curling rink ends up with $10,000.”
The council was in agreement that they would like to give a donation to the curling rink and this way it will encourage more local donations and ultimately raise the rink more funds.
“With Covid-19, this is a good year to try and get the curling rink some attention,” said Mayor Daryl Fingas. “With nobody really able to go anywhere they might be more willing to donate. If the personal donations can reach $5,000 that would mean we’ve given them $10,000 for the year on top and on top of that they’ll have the additional $5,000 from the personal donations.”
The council is hoping that with this funds matching plan and the previous grant they gave the curling rink this year, it will help spark more fundraising efforts for them to reach their goal in a timely manner.
“We decided that because they don’t fall under the rec umbrella for getting grants—like minor ball—we will give them and minor ball individual $5,000 grants each year,” said Administrator Monica Pethick. “If the curling rink wants to do this, it will go forward. If they want to raise money, the deal is that it has to be a personal donation from the ratepayers of Rocanville and we will match up to $5,000. The cost they need to do what they need to do is about $25,000 more to get the rink open again. This was one way we thought we’d be able to help them to achieve this, just by throwing a fun idea out there.”
Covid-19 rink policies
The council passed a motion to accept the Covid-19 policy manual for the Rocanville Skating Arena put together by the rink board. To re-open the Rocanville rink this fall, the rink board had to put in place Covid-19 preventive measures to reduce the spread of the virus. The policy will be updated as needed due to the fluid situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Anybody eligible to rent the rink must sign a form ensuring they will follow all Covid-19 rink policies. The Rocanville Skating Arena Covid-19 policy manual includes:
Coaches will ensure that all participants agree that if they’re sick or symptomatic, they will stay home. Everyone entering the facility must leave their name and contact information at the front entrance booth for contact tracing purposes.
Everyone that enters the building is required to use the hand sanitizer at the front entrance prior to entering the arena. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the facility. Dispenser will be located at the entrance, dressing rooms, washrooms, as well as high traffic areas.
If physical distancing can not be maintained or is unpredictable, a mask should be worn by those not participating in the activity.
A maximum of 30 skaters on the ice, including coaches. Maximum number of parents/spectators in the building must not total more than the maximum indoor gathering limits (30) per the public health order per team at each game/activity and must ensure physical distancing between non-household members.
The front doors will remain locked at this time. A caretaker will be there to unlock doors to let participants in and to monitor that regulations are being followed.
Skaters will be allowed entry into the building a maximum 10 minutes prior to their allotted ice time. Coaches/assistants are responsible to ensure the participants have exited the dressing rooms 15 minutes after their ice time. Failure to vacate the facility within the allocated time will result in an additional arena facility rate charge.
Sessions are to be for the player fitness/development sessions. Coaching is permitted with no contact and appropriate physical distancing. If physical distancing cannot be maintained or is unpredictable, a mask should be worn by the coach. No games are allowed at this time.
Dressing rooms are open and are clearly marked with social distancing signage. People are encouraged to come dressed but if this is not feasible, they can be allowed to dress and undress in the designated room. Dressing rooms have numbered stalls. Individuals are to proceed directly to their assigned dressing room and stall.
Spitting and other similar actives increase the risk of transmission of Covid-19 and are not permitted.
Monitoring of social distancing will be watched by the on-ice coaches.
Water bottles will need to be filled at home and clearly marked with the players name. Under no circumstances can water bottles be shared. The water fountain at the rink will be closed. Congratulatory gestures such as high fives and handshakes are not permitted.
No interprovincial players, skaters, participants, coaches, or instructors.
The coaches and participants are required to follow the rules outlined; they will be monitored by arena staff to ensure that the process is being followed. If they are not being adhered to, they will be excused from the facility.
It will be the renter’s responsibility to forward the rules of the Rocanville Arena to the parents and participants and they are required to follow them.
Infrastructure investment bylaw
Council passed a motion for the second and third reading for an investment bylaw. The bylaw ensures that when a budget is in a surplus that money will be invested into infrastructure.
“We’ve never actually made a bylaw for future councils saying that they should invest any surplus into infrastructure,” said Administrator Monica Pethick. “The problem was if there were a new council in, then they might not invest the money without a bylaw. This shows them this is what was done in the past and helps give direction.”
Dispute over credit given
During a delegation, the owner of Shear Success at 119 Ellice Street, Heather Tremblay, voiced her dissatisfaction with the amount the Town of Rocanville will pay for the water damage at her business. The estimated cost of the damage is $6,400 and the town will cover $3,200. The council did not change their decision after the delegation.
