Parks and Recreation Board moves to quarterly meetings. (File photo/meadowlakeNOW staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Parks and Recreation

Meadow Lake Parks and Recreation Board moves to quarterly meetings

Jan 14, 2021 | 9:56 AM

The City of Meadow Lake has agreed to a bylaw change resulting in the addition of two more Parks and Recreation Board meetings each year.

Originally, the board would meet only twice a year to discuss how Community Grant Funds would be allocated. With the new bylaw in place, the board will take on a larger role with Parks and Recreation operations.

Regan Beck, Parks and Recreation manager, said the new format will provide the board with opportunities to address concerns other than grant spending.

“The biggest challenge with two meetings was time was monopolized by the grant meetings,” Beck said. “Those two meetings were to strictly allocate the money and determine who would have the best use of those funds, so it didn’t leave time for the other stuff. Generally, people who are sitting on a recreation board are very interested and engaged with the community as well. It didn’t leave any opportunities for feedback, and it also didn’t provide opportunities for myself to present things to them as I see them and see what they’re seeing.”

With the board taking on a bigger role, Beck mentioned there are plans for the committee to come together and set goals for projects they have planned over the next few years. This means the board would act as a focus group with the recreation manager to discuss ideas and feedback from the community, initiatives that have been successful in other communities and areas for improvement.

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Mayor Merlin Seymour mentioned improving communication and decision-making between the board and city council was another key reason behind the decision. He added despite having more meetings, this decision does not mean there will be an increase in spending.

“It just means that we’ll be able to take care of the applications in a more timely fashion, as well as the recreation board bringing feedback to the council chambers,” Seymour said.

“We just felt that more communication was necessary amongst the people that are out working and looking after how things are done so we have a better idea of what is going on in a timely manner.”

Any changes to the budget or long-term level of services offered by the recreation department is still subject to approval from council.

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Elliott.Knopp@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp