Steinbach city council will consider matching a private sector grant to the Steinbach Arts Centre but not as quickly as councillor Susan Penner wanted. During question period at the city council meeting this week, Penner made a motion that the city match a $65,000 grant to the Arts Centre from Clearview Co-op to help with much-needed repairs at the building. Councillors Cari Penner and Earl Funk supported the move saying it was a one-time special opportunity to partner with the private sector to help the Arts Centre. But the other four members of council say while they support the idea, it would require a departure from the city's Grants Policy. Councillor John Fehr moved that council table Penner's motion so the idea can be discussed further at council's study session in a few weeks.

"I seldom like to make a decision the night that something is sprung on me. To just rewrite our Grants Policy midstream is not appropriate. I agree that we should be making some of those repairs, I fully support that, but I think that we might be able to do that in a much more tangible way than what this grant would have done. I think that it's going to end up being better for the Arts Council than what it is right now."

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra seconded the motion.

"The intent is good and I agree that the building needs improvements and we know that those requests have been made and we need to look at that. But we need to make sure that we do so properly. Also, it (the proposal) did not have the necessary information at this point. And so, I'm hopeful that in future discussions, that council will be able to agree on a way to improve that building because I think we do need to do so. But we need to make sure we address these things properly within policies. And, if we need to change a policy, then change it the proper way as opposed to one ad hoc adjustment."

Fehr's motion was approved by a vote of 4-3, being supported by councillors Zwaagstra and Jac Siemens along with Mayor Chris Goertzen. Goertzen says council generally likes the idea of matching the grant if it can be done within the rules.

"Certainly, around the council table, you hear a lot of support for the Arts Council and the work that they do as well as the improvements that they'd like to see at their building. Council certainly was amenable to looking at matching that grant and I want to commend councillor Penner for bringing that forward. At the same time there were some questions that the majority of council wanted answered before we proceed and so we'll be looking at that in the next few weeks at our study session and then moving forward."