By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
The RM of Corman Park will lend up to $9,000 to the Hamlet of Neuhorst in order for the community to complete the paving of its rink surface.
Councillors first voted unanimously during the June 9 comittee of the whole meeting to recommend that the hamlet be allowed to borrow up to $9,000 from the RM.
This recommendation was then approved as part of the consent agenda during the June 23 council meeting.
As noted in an administration report, council approved a Park and Recreation Capital Grant totalling $34,838 for the hamlet’s paving project in November 2025.
In turn, the hamlet is required to come up with a 20% in-kind requirement for the project, which comes out to roughly $8,700.
The community would prefer to meet this requirement with a cash contribution, but Neuhorst is currently in a deficit position.
While the hamlet has improved its financial position throughout 2025, reducing its balance owing from $63,863 to $46,156 and generating an $18,198 operating surplus in the process, administration acknowledged that Neuhorst’s accumulated deficit still remains fairly substantial.
It’s worth noting that hamlets do have the ability to spend their own account funds on recreation projects, but this funding is currently unavailable unless lending is approved by the RM.
During discussion of the request, Division 4 Councillor David Greenwood said he was comfortable with approving the loan, adding, “If they’re borrowing the money, I’m sure they’ll pay it back.”
