Andrews made a presentation to the Region of Queens council requesting money on behalf of the board at the region office in Liverpool on Jan. 10.
The club’s status as a limited company makes getting grants difficult.
In a letter to the Region of Queens Municipality, Andrews wrote the board has begun the process of moving from being a limited company to a society. He added the process takes time and is expensive, but the board of directors has begun to prepare funding applications.
A new board of directors was elected at the end of May and is comprised of five executive members and 10 directors, said Andrews at the council meeting.
Last month, the club announced the cancellation of its 2011/2012 season. The announcement came after the chiller, crucial for making ice, was found to be broken.
Despite the machine’s regular maintenance, the metal in the shell of the unit is rusted almost beyond repair, wrote Andrews.
The board explored multiple options, and he said the first two weren’t viable.
“So we’re left with the third option – replace the chiller and necessary associated equipment, and bring the room up to the Canadian standards for the Pressure Vessel Act, which will cost about $10,000,” said Andrews.
The unit will cost about $51,000, he added. That’s how the board came up with a $61,000 figure.
Andrews said he believes the club is a good economic driver for the region. Two provincially sanctioned events had to be cancelled when the club closed for the season.
Because chillers have to be custom built, it wouldn’t have been feasible for the club to open this season, said Andrews.
At the meeting, Councillor Bruce Inglis asked the executive whether it would be possible to declassify the company at the same time as forming the society. Andrews said the board needs more information to determine what it is allowed to do.
Andrews said in the meantime the club is continuing to fundraise. Over the last four months, the club has raised $25,000. Board members are also trying to create a social atmosphere at the curling club.
“Instead of curling for cancer this year, we’re looking at washer toss,” he said.
Councillor Darlene Norman added to this by broaching the idea of a large-scale fundraiser at Queens Place.
“There are avenues and venues for raising money,” she said.
Queens County has a facility that can hold a lot of people, she added.
Right now, the curling club can get funding through capital grants, and the maximum is $5,000.
“Five thousand’s a far cry from $61,000,” said Andrews.
Mayor John Leefe spoke on behalf of council, saying the Region of Queens Municipality would like to help the curling club as best it can.
The board of directors would be looking at having an operational chiller by October 2012, as it takes about a week to prepare the ice. A chiller would therefore have to be ordered in about June.
The curling club has been operating for 76 years, over which time it has hosted a number of regional, provincial and national bonspiels. It is hoping to host the nationals in 2014.
