Field will have to wait a while longer before it gets its covering for its outdoor rink.
The Municipality of West Nipissing was told by the Ontario Trillium Foundation that its application for the covering was being rejected.
Staff told council it was Trillium’s position that the infrastructure it was requesting was not required.
However, that’s not going to stop the municipality from trying again to get government funds.
Mayor Joanne Savage says if the local committee overseeing the project can redesign it, then it’s possible to send in another application next year.
Savage also expressed dismay that the committee heard about the Trillium rejection from the council meeting.
It was her desire that the committee should have been told the bad news first instead of learning about it on a live broadcast of council.
Stephan Poulin, the Director of Economic Development and Community Services, agreed the circumstances were unfortunate, but he had little choice in the matter for the sake of transparency.
Poulin told elected officials he had learned about Trillium’s decision to reject the funding application shortly before the start of Tuesday’s council meeting.
He adds he was able to tell Councillor Christopher Fisher about the development just before council started.
Poulin also told council local fundraising efforts by the committee will continue and other options for funding will also be explored.