Huron Expositor, 2009-09-30, Page 10440-.,r4Inekooft..--•1/4•4..-t7-.4.--b-•',..... _
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Per 10 The Huron Expositor • September 30,2009
Dan Schwab photo
Kelly Kiss, of Brucefleld, holds her cockapoo Ezra as she gets
her rabies shot from veterinarian Kathleen Day -Dunbar at the
Seaforth Animal Hospital on Sept. 26.
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News
County council debates if commitment
needed to Huron's cultural services
Cheryl Reath
411.111=111111.111.
Does culture count?
That proved to be the question at Huron
County's Sept. 15 committee -of -the -whole ses-
sion.
The query arose after Beth Ross, the county's
cultural services director, sought permission to
apply for matching grant funding
from the province's new $9 -mil-
lion Community Prosperity
Fund, which is designed to help
municipalities create culture
plant; since such things 'are cur-
rently being touted as economic
saviours.
The fact that if the grant was
awarded, it would require match
ng county funding proved to be
a concern to Coun. Joe Seili (Hu-
ron East), who asked that fund-
ing be allocated from the exist-
ing department's budget and not
from the projected 2010 county
budget.
"There is no cultural services
budget," reported Ross, noting
Seili's request could only be ac-
commodated by dipping into ei-
ther the library system or mu-
seum's budgets.
In noting an earlier county cul-
tural services review was nota-
bly short, Ross said, "We get lots of
credit for activities that the county is actually
not fimdingright now."
Ross said the motivation for applying for the
provincial funding is a simple one.
`This is the first time the province has been
willing to put money into developing culture,
but we have to provide matching funding," she
said, noting it would be difficult to find $30,000
in either the 2009 museum or library budgets.
Coun. James Fergusson (Bluewater) said
given that culture has been identified as im-
portant to the community, it only makes sense
for the county to move forward with develop-
ing a plan.
"How did we get this far without supporting
this?" he said.
Seili, however, remained unswayed, noting
the county allocated $50,000 for a museum
study.
"I'm well aware of the study," said Fergus-
son. "1 think they're two different things."
Coun. John Grace (Goderich) supported
Ross's request, noting it would be dif-
ficult for her to find $30,000 given
there isn't a set budget for culture
while Coun. Dave Johnston (Blue -
water) said he'd prefer to review
the request at budget time.
Budget time, argued Coun. Deb
Shewfelt (Goderich), may be too
late. _
"We need every cent we can get
going over the next few years,"
said Shewfelt, suggesting council-
lors are forgetting 1,200 county
residents are currently on layoff.
"Thirty -thousand is peanuts,"
said Shewfelt. "Let's get on with
it."
Bezaire said he also thinks now
is the time to act.
"We need to get our priorities
straight," he said, noting it is no
small irony the county officially
recognizes culture as one of its
four economic pillars but at the
same time refuses to fund it in
any tangible way.
"We need to make a commitment to cultural
services. Give it a budget," said Bezaire. "At
some point this county has to put cultural- ser-
vices as a true priority or take it out as a prior-
ity."
As it stands, the county published a cultural
plan in 2008, which was designed as a working
document and framework for cultural develop-
ment.
Since then, a number of popular events, in-
cluding Doors Open Haunted Huron and Taste
of Huron, have taken place, but funding for
them was facilitated via outside partners and
one-time grants.
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