The Bowden Community Action Society has accomplished a lot but still remains in good financial shape, according to society treasurer Pat Filipenko.
It plans to do more next year, he says.
Filipenko filled Bowden town council in on the committee's work and its finances during council's Aug. 25 regular meeting.
Filipenko said the committee has “a little over $20,000” in its bank account after working on various projects.
“Our skateboard park is essentially done,” he said. “We've got a little bit of maintenance work along the side to do grass. And we want to put fencing around it. Other than that, it's complete.”
He said so far, the committee has spent about $121,000 on that project.
They intend to spend more too.
Filipenko said the committee plans to solve the noise problem in the skateboard park by having foam sprayed underneath the quarter pipe and pyramid.
He said the committee has also spent about $4,000 on the arena and horseshoe pits. Plans call for the committee to spend another $2,000 for miscellaneous maintenance on the arena as well.
Filipenko said they should still have enough money to create two structures this year: an electrical storage shed and a gazebo. They also hope to have cash to work on two handicapped parking areas. However, that doesn't mean paving them, just laying down gravel.
After all that work is done, Filipenko anticipates the committee will still have about $10,000 when the new year rolls around.
He says they plan to use that money to help finance two projects.
“We want to pave the arena parking lot so we can use it 365 days a year. And we want to get pathways through there with pavement so that we can have handicapped access to all facilities for handicapped people,” he told council.
In October, Filipenko hopes to begin applying for federal and provincial grants to help fund those two projects.
“I think the committee has done a tremendous job,” Filipenko said. “It's the best committee I've ever been on, without a doubt, and I've lived for, not quite 70 years – close,” he added with a smile.
He also thanked town crews for picking up the garbage and for weed-whacking all the way around the arena, “making it nice and clean there.”
“The town appreciates the amazing job your committee has done,” Mayor Robb Stuart said.
