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Mono asks Lions Club to submit grant bid for Seven Bridges Run

May 5, 2016   ·   0 Comments

The Orangeville Lions Club is not getting funding for their Seven Bridges Run on May 28 from the Town of Mono – at least, not yet.

A brochure and sponsorship form came before Mono Council at its April 28 meeting, having been added as a late item on the agenda.

The Lions Club asked the Town for a $500 Silver Sponsorship level of support. In exchange, the club will provide all of the items within the Silver Sponsorship package and add “Town of Mono” on the side of each of the 32 champions’ caps. The silver package also includes two run registrations, which could be given to interested town staff or used for an online draw for residents. Silver sponsors are also able to set up a tent in the vendor area.

The May 28 event will start at the OAS Event Centre on Mono’s 5 Sideroad and run on to the trail and bridge system at Island Lake Conservation Area. The theme of this year’s run is “Come for the Run, Stay for the Weekend.” Currently there are over 200 registrants including over 50 youth from Mono Amaranth Public School and Parkinson Centennial School. The goal is to get 300 participants. There will be eight age categories, with four champions in each age category (five kilometre and 10 kilometre, male and female).

While Council was supportive of the Lions Club, some of the councillors took issue with the fact that, in this case, the club did not follow the Town’s process and procedure for requesting funds.

Councillor Fred Nix explained the Town  will give certain local groups donations or money to support them under certain conditions but, for example, they have to be local, they have to be of direct interest to Mono residents, etc.

“In this case, the Lions Club advised that all of the money it will raise will be given to charities it picks,” Mr. Nix said in an email to The Citizen. “I have no problem with that and I am sure the Lions do a great job in helping some charities. My ‘issue’ is that I think it is inappropriate for Mono Council to hand over the job of selecting certain charities to a third party. If those charities need/want money and if they meet certain criteria, they can apply to Mono directly.”

He also made the point that the Town of Mono already puts a lot of money into the Island Lake trail system and plans to negotiate a new agreement that would see even more of Mono’s taxpayer money going into the system.

“I have nothing against this as I think the Island Lake area and its trails are an absolutely great asset for the town, but I think Mono Council has to look at the big picture and look at all the park/trail systems we have rather than just pouring money into one of them,” Mr. Nix stated. In saying this, I realize the Lions run is an ‘event’ at Island Lake, so in some sense supporting them is not putting more money into the Island Lake trail system.”

Councillor Ralph Manktelow agreed.

“I have nothing but support for the Lions club,” he noted. “If the Lions club wishes to submit a grant request like everyone else that requests money from the town and indicate how the money will be used –  e.g. to cover the costs of putting on the event –  then we would be in a position to consider it, quite possibly favourably.”

Deputy Mayor Ken McGhee said he does not want council to set a precedent by providing funding to a group without following the proper process.

Mono CAO Mark Early said there is still time for the club to come forward with a grant application for council’s consideration.

“If there is enough time for them to go through our process properly, I would like them to be a little more definitive on where the money is going to go,” said Councillor Sharon Martin.

Treasurer Les Halucha asked if there was any point in getting the Lions Club to “jump through hoops” if council has no intention of granting the funding.

Mayor Laura Ryan responded that it would be helpful for council to have an application in hand so they are able to make a decision in the future.

“We shouldn’t disregard our own process and say yes or no,” she said, asking that the Town send a letter to the Lions Club asking them to file a proper application.

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