The Town of Vermilion is moving funds around to purchase necessary mowing equipment. Council considered moving money to the provincial park’s operating budget.
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“In our budget, we had originally moved that money into the operating (budget) but after looking at the mowers, we’re going to need it to be transferred over from operating to capital just so we can purchase the mower,” said Mike van der Torre, director of community services.
As part of the transfers, there will be a $65,000 increase to the provincial park operating budget reserve transfer and the 2025 parks capital reserve.
A total of $50,000 will be taken from the provincial park operating budget equipment rent.
The need for the new mower comes as the town is now a facility operator at the provincial park.
“In that, there’s obviously a lot more grass involved,” said van der Torre.
With the increased demand, the issue is the older mowers would no longer suffice.
“Our older mowers won’t be able to keep up to what the demand is with all the extra mowing. We’re going to be buying local for one and improve the park quality,” said van der Torre.
He says the purchase of the new mower will allow them to keep up with the mowing demand.
The town knew there was a possibility they would be facility operators at the provincial park, though nothing was set in stone at budget time.
“We had anticipated we would need to potentially purchase a mower or rent or do something along those lines, it just hadn’t been solidified at budget time. That’s why this is coming to us as a budget amendment to correct the accounting,” said Deputy Mayor Joshua Rayment.
Council approved an amendment to the 2025 Capital Budget to add a $65,000 parks equipment budget funded from reserve, a reduction in 2025 parks operating equipment rent of $50,000, and an addition to 2025 Parks Operating budget reserve transfer of $65,000.
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