Sicamous council is playing ball with a request for $3,500 from Sicamous Minor Softball.
Council unanimously approved a special events grant of $3,500 to the Sicamous Minor Softball Association to help cover costs associated with three tournaments: the recent Sicamous Ladies Fastball Tournament on May 28-29, the Ladies C Tournament on June 24-25 and the U18B Girls Provincial Softball Championship on July 8-10.
Coun. Janna Simons noted the association already received a $4,000 grant through Hosting BC, and questioned what the costs are associated with the tournaments.
Coun. Gord Bushell said council received a breakdown of tournament costs last year when the district provided the association with monetary support. He said he didn’t have a current budget handy, but explained the money would help cover the cost of referees and their accommodations.
“He’s building it, it’s growing every year… we have the funds in the budget. So I thought I’d put it forward,” said Bushell.
Coun. Todd Kyllo noted some of the money goes towards supporting ball players whose families, for whatever reason, are unable to pay for their to play.
District chief financial officer said the money would come from a $5,000 special events budget for one-off items.
Coun. Malcolm Makayev called the $3,500 investment to have people fill local hotels and eat in local restaurants “cheap like borscht.”