City of Powell River Council’s finance committee sees value in extending the Powell River Lawn Bowling Club’s lease.
Shehzad Somji, the city’s chief financial officer, told council at the June 25 finance committee meeting that the proposal was for a 10-year lease with a $1 per year plus GST charge.
The city first entered into an agreement with the club in 1976 when the city purchased the land from MacMillan Bloedel. Somji said the good feature of the lease is the lawn bowling club looks after the grounds and buildings and maintains its own insurance. He said it is actually the club’s building that was constructed on city land.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway questioned whether the club is a non-profit society. She said it had been suggested there was not official status so the city was not really contracting with anybody.
“Maybe we could check that out and see if they are a society, and that we are actually contracting with a legal entity,” she said.
Mayor Dave Formosa said the lawn bowling club deserves recognition. He said the club, led by Fred Dunlop, has done an exceptional job of maintaining the grass and the property.
“I just want to make a shout-out to Fred and that whole crew for all of the dedication and work,” he said.
Mac Fraser, the city’s chief administrative officer, said he has a couple of friends involved with the club and they are so appreciative of the $1 a year lease that they feel an obligation to make their club available to other members of the community at a preferential rate.
“They understand the value they are receiving,” Fraser said.
The committee will send the matter to the July 16 council meeting for consideration.
The lawn bowling club facility was originally constructed in 1930 under ownership of Powell River Company and has continuously operated for recreational purposes as a lawn bowling club since that time.
