The Forestburg village council settled on granting about half the money requested by a local non-profit society. The decision was made at its May 21 regular council meeting.

Councillors heard an update on a previous request from the Forestburg Historical Society, which sent a letter requesting funds to help pay for summer staff. At a previous council meeting, it was suggested the society had applied for federal government grants to cover staff but was unsuccessful in securing them.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dwight Dibben provided council with more information about the request as per council’s direction. The society provided the figure of $11,026.36 and confirmed it was indeed for hiring both a college student and a high school student for the summer.

Dibben noted that the request was only received recently and wasn’t included in the village’s 2026 budget, but the CAO stated the village could probably find the funds in the community development envelope.

Councillors discussed federal summer employment grant criteria and why some communities are approved while others are not. They also noted during discussion that the historical society has never asked for this money before.

Coun. Elaine Fossen stated she wasn’t opposed to the society’s request but added it was a fairly large amount of money for a village and it was not budgeted. Fossen, as she leafed through the material provided by staff, noted the historical society did not provide its most recent financial statement.

As they discussed the request, councillors considered granting the society a smaller amount of money than what was requested. In addition, councillors noted that if this were to become an annual request, then the society should apply through the local grant program next year.

According to its social media page, the Forestburg Historical Society is “...a local organization dedicated to preserving and sharing local history.”

The village’s website notes the historical society operates the Forestburg & District Museum, described as “...a collection of homesteading and agricultural tools, mining memorabilia and an authentic 1920s kitchen.”

A motion was made to grant the Forestburg Historical Society half of the $11,026.36 it requested. However, Coun. Devon McNabb made an amendment to the motion after making some calculations. McNabb stated he would be more comfortable granting the society funds more in line with 170 hours of employment at minimum wage, which would add up to about $3,000. In a vote, that amendment was defeated 4-1, with McNabb the lone supporter.

The motion to grant half the request was passed in a 4-1 vote, with McNabb the lone dissenter.