The Mary Webb Centre is set to receive grant money from the municipality, but there are strings attached.
A report came to council Monday night regarding the theatre. It recommended that a request for a $250,000 interest-free bridge financing loan be turned down because it didn't meet the criteria outlined in a new policy.
During the discussion of that loan request, Councillor David VanDamme made an amendment to his original motion, asking council to approve a one-time grant of $62,500 -- that's 25% of the original request.
"Everything's a compromise," says VanDamme. "I knew it was a tough sell from the beginning to ask for a quarter of a million dollars right up front."
Friendly amendments were then made, requiring the theatre to match the funds and sign a standard grant agreement.
As specified by Chief Legal Officer John Norton, signing the grant agreement means the theatre would have to prove they can match the funds before receiving money from the municipality, which would be taken from municipal reserves.
The motion passed 16-2.
Marg Eberle, chair of the board for the Mary Webb Centre, says she's pleased with how the vote went but adds there are still a couple of things she needs to look over.
"I haven't seen the grant papers yet so I have to see those to see exactly what we're committed to," she says. "I was hoping the money would come first so we can get the doors and windows in but if we can't we'll have to just keep on with what we're doing -- we're doing quite well on raising funds."
Eberle adds the theatre's first priority with the money is to put in new doors and windows; any money that's left over after that will go towards an HVAC system, plumbing, and hydro costs.
