Red Deer County council has agreed to help float the Westerner Exposition Association's project, but not with as much money as requested.Council felt $90,000 doled out in $15,000 increments for the next six years for the association's parade float was too high of a contribution compared to donations from the City of Red Deer.ìThis is certainly a project I can support,î Div. 4 Coun. David Hoar said at last Tuesday's meeting of the float that will feature the Westerner Exposition Association, the City of Red Deer and Red Deer County at about 20 parades throughout the province each year. Currently, the county donates $3,000 a year from the economic development sponsorship budget.ìWe're contributing half as much (as City of Red Deer) and we're a municipality of 18 to 20,000 where the city is 80,000 to 90,000. It seems we're being generous and paying part of someone else's share as well,î said Hoar.The City of Red Deer and the Westerner Association will contribute $30,000 a year. The money is needed to replace the float, since the 1985 chassis used to move the float along the street died, Jack Donald, representing the Westerner float replacement committee, told council.ìThe old float was remains of a 1985 Pontiac and the motor was smoking and it was shot,î said Donald, who added the group is starting all over again and would also need to provide wiring, a sound system and new superstructures that can be taken off and redesigned each year with a different theme.The city would be featured for two years, the county for one, and the association for two, with a leftover year during the six-year partnership.ìWhat benefits Red Deer city benefits Red Deer County. We all work together,î said Donald. ìWe all put a little in and hope to get a lot out. We know you have less taxpayers Ö so we came in with a lower budget for your contribution.îCouncil agreed to support the initiative and in a 6-1 vote decided to contribute $6,500 a year instead, for a total contribution of $39,000.ìWe should support on a per capita basis,î said Div. 2 Coun. Don Nesbitt who said, based on the city's donation at 2.8 cents per capita, the county should pay $6,500.ìI can't justify paying more than the city,î said Div. 6 Coun. George Gehrke. ìI would make the motion for $6,500 to make it comparable to the city's $30,000.îDiv 1. Coun. Philip Messier was the only one to vote against the donation amount.ìI can't argue with them,î said Donald of the decision. ìThey're saying they're 20 per cent of the population of the city so their contribution should be 20 per cent of the cost. The nice thing is they're partnering (with) the Westerner and Red Deer city to promote Central Alberta and I see that as positive.îHe said they might have to reduce costs but overall isn't concerned about the finances.ìWe'll do the best we can with what we have to work with and live within a budget Ö we'll make it work.î
