Riverview Golf wants dialogue ahead of rejection after Redcliff says no to water aid
Like everyone in southerneastern Alberta, Riverview Golf Club in Redcliff has dealt with a hot, dry summer.
At the town’s last council meeting, it read and unanimously rejected the course’s request that the town help cover its water bill for the year.
Director of golf Glenn Racz says the course is asking for help from council because it was under the impression there would be discounted rates coming to the course.
“We were told on no uncertain terms that once the new plant was up running we would get a discounted rate on water,” said Racz. “Now that the water facility is up and running, nothing has changed with our bills. The plant has a back-flush pond that they can’t put the water back into the river. We were under the impression that we were going to either get that water at a discounted rate, or for free. We ended up getting neither, and no change to our water costs.”
Racz says he knew the letter was going to be declined by council but admits he was hoping to start a conversation with to try to work something out.
“The $40,000 was a pie-inthe-sky number,” he said. “We just wanted the letter to be a starting line that got council to say to come out and meet them and to talk about it.
“I don’t know if we could eight cents a cube, 12 cents, I really don’t know. We just wanted to meet with them. We realize that we won’t get it for free but we budgeted $15,000 less for water this year based on the knowledge that we would be getting a reduced rate.”
Mayor Ernie Reimer doesn’t think it is up to the town to foot the club’s water bill.
“When we’re talking about a decision like this, this isn’t council’s money, this is the town’s money,” he said. “Not everyone in the town plays golf, so for us to give that money would not seem right without everyone being on board.
“Having the course in town is great, don’t get me wrong. Having it here brings a lot of people in from Medicine Hat, and it’s very good to have, but we can’t just give them money like that. We’ve helped the course out in the past and have money ready for them when they get their driving range going. But I think the 18 cents per cubic metre is fair.”
Racz says the club has cut more than $100,000 from its maintenance budget and has increased its membership dues recently in an attempt to make more money.
He says he will be writing a new letter for council but not until the election has passed.