Some Coldstream politicians have staged their concern over a potentially precedent-setting act.
The district has approved a request from the Rushing Wild Performing Arts Company to rent the Women’s Institute Hall at a substantially reduced rate. But not without opposition.
“I think if you start setting precedents, you’re going to run into some problems,” said Coun. Richard Enns.
The performers will be given a reduced rate of $15 for three-hour sessions every Wednesday morning from April 1 to June 24 so that they can rehearse for an upcoming performance in Mexico at the International Festival of Dance.
“We have rented the institute before for other shows here in the Okanagan,” said Gloria Perrier, artistic director, in her letter to Coldstream. “And it has worked really well, the space and wood floor is perfect. We are renting it for our fundraiser in May as well.”
The normal rate is $40 per hour, and there is a non-profit rate of $25 per hour (which the company is paying for its fundraiser in May).
“I think it’s already a relatively low rate we’re providing,” said Coun. Gyula Kiss, who also opposed the $15 rate granted.
But since the company had indicated that if they could not get the rate requested, they could not afford to rent it at all, a majority of councillors agreed to give them a break.
“If there’s no one using it and they want to use it, fine,” said Coun. Doug Dirk. “It’s sitting there empty and we’re paying for it anyway.”
The ability to debate special circumstances such as this makes council human, said Dirk.
“If we’re just going to go by policy all the time, we wouldn’t need people, we would just need a computer.”
