Lifesaver thrown to rec centre

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By Jim Mosher
Sunday November 21, 2004

Interlake Spectator — WINNIPEG BEACH -- The municipal recreation centre was thrown a life rope last week but it may not be enough to resuscitate the financially-strapped facility.
Council approved granting the centre $16,000 for looming operational expenses. That’s the amount recommended a month ago as the minimum required to keep the Hamilton Ave. centre’s doors open this season. The centre also received $4,000 which must be allocated to pay down a line of credit underwritten by the town. The centre is about $92,000 into the $100,000 line of credit. While the $4,000 will bring that down, the catch is this new money will also reduce the line of credit with the beach branch of the Gimli Credit Union to $96,000.
Larry Moore, chairman of the rec centre board, was lukewarm about the cash infusion.

Moore and Chris Sanderson, an economic development officer with Northeast Interlake Community (NEICOM) Developments, presented the centre’s financial plan to last Tuesday’s regular meeting of town council. The pair suggested the rec centre would require $35,400 to meet the cash lines of its five-year plan.
The town already contributes about $30,000 a year to the centre, including $20,000 earmarked to underwrite operational costs and $10,000 for insurance. The centre sits on town-owned land and the building, constructed in 1978 and boasting a replacement value ranging up to $4 million, is tax exempt.
Council served notice that it will be watching. Mayor Don Pepe was the most conciliatory, but noted that council is obliged to look after the public purse.
“The rec centre is in real difficulty. I would like to compliment the directors on their efforts, but it’s really to not much avail,” said Coun. Sonya Dodd, council’s representative on the rec centre board. “If you go to one of their meetings, you really feel sorry for them. It’s really in a disastrous situation.”