MELFORT — Melfort council has chosen to spend the $100,000 it received from the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation on not one, but three local projects.
As part of its disbursement of donations, the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation gave $1.15 million to east central communities. Humboldt received $800,000; Tisdale, Melfort and Nipawin $100,000 each; and Zenon Park $50,000.
The money can be allocated to anything the town wishes, without specific limitations.
Melfort allowed their community services committee to send recommendations for how to spend the funds.
“We’re extremely appreciative to the community of Humboldt and to the HumboldtStrong committee for keeping us in your thoughts and the part that we played in respect to the catastrophe, because we did have people involved,” said Rick Lang, mayor of Melfort. “We truly appreciate the fact that they did recognize the efforts that we made.”
Melfort is spending the first $25,000 on a Fun Zone mini stick arena and a recognition wall at the Northern Lights Palace.
The next $25,000 will be spent on the purchase of a video laryngoscope for the Melfort Hospital. A video laryngoscope is used to assist with intubation for trauma and surgery.
“The mini-rink is a direct tribute to the Humboldt team and to the Foundation and to the community of Humboldt,” Lang said. “The diagnostic equipment that we’re dedicating some money to, is in response to, again, the catastrophe and the piece of equipment that could very well be needed in issues that come up that are similar to that.”
The last $50,000 will be used toward the heliport project for the construction of a heliport at the Melfort Hospital.
“Of course the heliport is in response to STARS and the service they provide and in the future could potentially save some lives in catastrophes similar to this.”
Lang said several projects to spend the funds on were debated.
“We could have allocated all the money to one particular project, but we felt to impact the community to a maximum benefit we went to three different projects and all worthwhile and all linked to the community of Humboldt, the Humboldt Broncos and the situation.”
