WILKIE — The council of the Town of Wilkie discussed a request from Wilkie Minor Ball at their March 27 meeting, deciding whether to donate money for the purchase of shale for the group.
According to a letter from Wilkie Minor Ball, purchasing new shale comes at a significant cost to the club.
“The shale is purchased from Colored Shale Products Inc. in Moose Jaw. We were quoted $6,600,” reads the letter shown to the News-Optimist/SASKTODAY.ca
Five levels of funding are outlined in the letter:
- Platinum for $1,000
- Gold for $750
- Silver for $500
- Bronze for $250
- Friends of Wilkie Minor Ball for $100
With other councillors voicing concerns over whether there was justification for the expense, Councillor Alex Majewski noted that two provincial teams will be playing on the ball diamonds in 2023, which include U13 and U11.
“Can we figure that into the budget?” Mayor David Ziegler asked, mirroring the concerns of other councillors regarding the cost.
“We could definitely fit it in," Lana Gerein, the town’s administrator, said.
"I think just because minor ball typically hasn’t asked for a lot over the years, it would be nice to try and support them,” Gerein said.
“We do support them with minor ball day through the recreation board, but they typically haven’t been going to the community very often. I think some kind of support would be nice.”
Majewski also noted that when a town project involves the ball diamonds, Wilkie Minor Ball often contributes to the expense.
“... this isn't something that comes every year, so I don’t think it’s that big of an ask,” Gerein noted again.
“Remember, we have to save enough for the rest of the community. It’s going to be a tough budget this year,” the mayor noted before council passed a motion for the purchase of shale for the Minor Ball diamonds at the Wilkie Regional Park for $6,600.
