Some big ticket items made up the 2018 list of requests for funding to be considered by the R.M. of Dufferin and Town of Carman. Each year the two councils jointly fund a certain amount of area projects and initiatives.

To start, the Carman-Dufferin Fire Department will get a total of $500,000 with each municipality agreeing to contribute $250,000 over two years towards the purchase of a new fire truck.

George Gray, Reeve for the R.M. of Dufferin, explained the plan is to the put the department on a ten year replacement rotation. He noted it's already been a decade since a new truck was purchased.

Carman Mayor, Bob Mitchell, said the move was necessary. "You have to replace this stuff, there's just no debate."

In addition, Carman Minor Ball sought $800,000 to help build and develop additional diamonds in the northwest corner of town and the Boyne Regional Library Expansion Committee asked for $500,000 dollars. However, neither request will be fully met.

Reeve Gray explained that's because both councils have tagged the personal care home project as a main objective for 2018/19.

Mayor Mitchell agreed that there is nothing wrong with either project, just that the timing was a little off.

That being said, the R.M. of Dufferin will grant Carman Minor Ball $12,500 to help pay for engineering plans.
    
The Town of Carman however, will not offer up any cash for the ball diamond project this year but has committed to help further develop the plan.

Both councils have denied the library expansion request but have committed to continuing to work with the committee with the opportunity for future considerations for funding.

Meantime, representatives from Ronald McDonald House in Winnipeg made a presentation at the joint planning meeting held in mid-January.

Reeve Gray said he was shocked to hear that 17 area families used the service in 2017.

That's why, for only the second time that Mayor Mitchell can remember, the Town of Carman and R.M. of Dufferin are giving the organization more money than it requested. They've upped their total contribution from $1,500 to $5,000.

"If our citizens are availing themselves of the facility to help them through their trauma, we're certainly willing to be there for them," said Gray.

This year the joint committee considered over 40 requests, most from organizations that already see annual contributions.

Mayor Mitchell noted this list of usual suspects didn't request much in the way of increases, on average about 2 per cent over last year.

However, the Back Door Youth Centre did make a presentation to the committee because it requested an additional $5,000 from each council. The organization plans to build an expansion to its Main St. location in Carman.

The Golden Prairie Arts Council also asked for more than the usual amount of funding. The group needs another $22,000 in order to fix the roof of the downtown facility.

The Town and R.M. have committed a total of $22,5000 to build bathrooms/change rooms at the new splash pad in Carman.Below is a full list of the approved 2018 grants.

Below is a full list of the approved 2018 grants.

Town of Carman
Pembina Valley Humane Society    $1,250.00
DAS Sponsorship     $5,000.00
TEMPO     $300.00
Carman Dufferin Fire Department - Operating     $133,729.50
Carman Dufferin Fire Department - Capital     $125,000.00
Emergency Management Team - Coordinator included with fire budget
Crime Stoppers     $279.95
Carman Dufferin Municipal Airport     $5,000.00
Boyne Care Holdings - PCH Consultation     $30,000.00
Greenwood Cemetery - Operating     $13,500.00
Carman Family Resource Centre     $4,000.00
Carman Seniors Resource Centre     $2,266.00
Boundary Trails     $1,250.00
The Back Door     $8,000.00
Friendship Group     $500.00
Carman Palliative Care     $5,000.00
Katie Cares 2015 - 2018     $2,710.50
STARS $2,799.50
Ronald McDonald House     $2,500.00
Carman-Dufferin Planning District - Operating    $15,000.00
Boyne Valley Water Initiative    $10,000.00
Economic Development Office    $81,902.50
Carman Dufferin Recreation Commission - Operating    $215,000.00
Carman Dufferin Recreation Commission - Capital    $43,750.00
Roseisle Community Recreation Group    $2,500.00
Graysville Community Recreation Group    $1,000.00
Memorial Hall - Operating    $70,000.00
Dufferin Historical Society    $5,350.00
Boyne Regional Library - Operating    $63,451.41
Golden Prairie Arts Council - does not include Town Rent of $4800     $15,825.00
Carman Community Pathway to Active Living    $2,000.00
Carman Splash Pad Bathrooms/Change house    $15,000.00

Total Grant Expenditures    $883,864.36

R.M. of Dufferin
Pembina Valley Humane Society    $1,250.00
DAS Sponsorship    $5,000.00
TEMPO    $300.00
Carman Dufferin Fire Department - Operating    $143,980.85
Carman Dufferin Fire Department - Capital    $125,000.00
Crime Stoppers    $279.95
Carman Dufferin Municipal Airport    $5,000.00
Boyne Care Holdings - PCH Consultation    $30,000.00
Greenwood Cemetery - Operating    $13,500.00
Carman Family Resource Centre    $4,000.00
Carman Seniors Resource Centre    $2,266.00
Boundary Trails    $1,250.00
The Back Door    $8,000.00
Friendship Group    $500.00
Carman Palliative Care    $5,000.00
Katie Cares    $2,710.50
STARS    $2,799.50
STARS Helipad    $35,000.00
Ronald McDonald House    $2,500.00
Carman-Dufferin Planning District - Operating    $15,000.00
Boyne Valley Water Initiative    $10,000.00
Economic Development Office    $81,902.50
Carman Dufferin Recreation Commission - Operating    $215,000.00
Carman Dufferin Recreation Commission - Capital    $43,750.00
Roseisle Community Recreation Group    $2,500.00
Graysville Community Recreation Group    $1,000.00
Memorial Hall - Operating    $70,000.00
Dufferin Historical Society     $5,350.00
Boyne Regional Library - Operating    $63,451.41
Golden Prairie Arts Council    $11,025.00
Carman Community Pathway to Active Living    $2,000.00
Carman Splash Pad for Bathrooms and Change house    $7,500.00
Carman Minor Ball for Engineering    $12,500

Total Grant Expenditures    $929,315.71