City awards community grants to local organizations

Several organizations in Sisters are thousands of dollars richer, thanks to the City of Sisters.

The City of Sisters allocates a budgeted amount each year to fund local community organizations' efforts. This fiscal year the budgeted amount is $15,000. All organizations were welcome to apply for a portion of the budget; the application process is simply a letter stating how the funds would be used within the community.

This year 20 different organizations requested a total of $65,158 in funding.

At the city council meeting on July 10, Mayor Boyd opened the session by summarizing the criteria to be used in weeding through the 20 applications.

"Although all the organizations are doing good work, the criteria we use to make a decision is if the organization is located within the city or benefits children or community members," said the mayor.

These criteria helped the council narrow down the list fairly quickly.

FAN (Family Access Network) requested and was granted $3,000. Last fiscal year FAN received $2,500, helping 18 Sisters families with service credits (for home utilities) during difficult times.

SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities & Recreation) received $5,000 this year to establish scholarships for people to participate in their various programs. Last year the organization also received $5,000.

Wolftree, a non-profit organization with the mission to serve people and their communities through innovative science education in the outdoors, received $300 this year. The organization had requested $2,000 for equipment and native plants for a Whychus Creek project.

The council struggled with this request. Mayor Boyd was not in favor of the funding the request because the creek is outside the city limits. Councilor Sharlene Weed disagreed.

"The organization is doing good work on the creek, educating youth and creating awareness. The entire creek is ours, even that portion outside the city limits. I would like to fund at least $300 of the request," said Weed.

The council settled on $300.

Council President Bill Merrill had a suggestion for all organizations interested in grant money for Whychus Creek or forest-related projects going forward.

"It's time, I think, for all these organizations to get together on these projects, pooling their grant requests, so there's not duplication of grant requests," Merrill said.

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the non-profit group that runs the show, requested $800 and received $400 for a new computer.

SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) received $1,250 to help fund local programs. Sisters Girl Scouts received $300 for two wagons they wish to purchase. Sisters Little League received $900 for improvements to ball fields including a water meter and pipe.

The council discussed the Public Art Team request for $2,000 at length. Councilor Merrill felt the PAT's request reflected a desire to incorporate art that moves away from the adopted city's 1880s theme.

"I'm unwilling to support an organization that does not support the city's documents that have been approved by the people of Sisters and other county and state agencies," said Merrill.

Councilor Weed saw the request differently.

"The art work they're proposing to do is work the city would probably wind up doing anyway. If they'll accept the 1880 theme requirement I think we should go for it," said Weed.

Mayor Boyd agreed and the council settled on a $1,000 grant.

The Sisters Trail Committee received $400 to pay for additional trail signage.

Nine organizations received a total of $12,550 in grant funding. This leaves $2,450 in funds for distribution at a later date.