The Town of High River is making their reasons for giving the Highwood Golf and Country Club a $70,000 dollar cash infusion clear.

The Town's Chief Financial Officer Kola Oladimeji says they view the money as a grant, no different than they would give to any other community organization.

Oladimeji says the Town views the golf course as different than other businesses in High River.

"Simply because the Town derives a lot of benefits from having the golf course, either directly, or indirectly."

He says those benefits are municipal taxes, jobs and economic spin-off from other events being held at the club.

Oladimeji says if the Town doesn't step up and support the golf course now, what happens?

"Mayor (Craig) Snodgrass asked that question. So, if we did not do anything to support what happens, the golf course might be closed, it might be taken over by the lenders. And they'll do whatever they like to the property, which will bring a negative impact to the Town."

Oladimeji says if the course fails it'll have a huge impact on the Town, not just from a recreational point of view but from a taxation point of view as the value of homes in and around that end of town would fall dramatically.

Council voted six to one in favour of the motion, with Councillor Bruce Masterman the only vote against it.

 

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