Powell River Christian School has scored some extra money to complete the ball hockey court on its property.
At a recent City of Powell River Council meeting, council approved a further grant of more than $30,000 to finish the project.
During the meeting, Shehzad Somji, the city’s chief financial officer, said in June councillors concurred with a recommendation from Powell River Community Forest board regarding grants, and the ball hockey court was one of the projects approved. Since that time Powell River Christian School has been working on the facility that is adjacent to Joyce Avenue.
“They done a lot of work there already,” Somji said. “They have run short of funds and have come back for additional funding.”
He said the requested additional money would complete fencing, boards and acrylic coating. He added that the community forest board met and reviewed the proposal from the school in September and recommended that council approve the additional funding.
Somji said he believed the original amount was $51,000. “Since that time, I think what they did is clear off the portables that were on the school site,” Somji said. “They want to pave that area.” He said the school also wants to build new boards around the ball hockey court.
He said there is still money left over from the $1.2-million dividend cheque the community forest provided to the city in June, which leaves room for this additional request.
Mayor Dave Formosa said it appears the school expanded the scope of its project and was asking for more funding. Councillor Russell Brewer said the facility will be open to the entire community.
Council considered the recommendation from the community forest board that an additional grant in the amount of $31,078 be issued to the school to complete the Joyce Avenue ball hockey court. The additional funding is to bring the project to a standard that will make it a showpiece for the community.
The recommendation carried unanimously.
