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12 ( Tree Farrh@j(i@rdcn Centre ) "Your Garden is Our Business!" 795 Erbsville Road, Waterloo Across from Church in Erbsville ze kss . :. .e z* ?{;.i ky t i. * 7 CA â€" j e 3 ‘:‘ * & ‘_ “ i 80 King St. South, Waterloo {(319) 8288â€"9200 884â€"2050 I1 Erbsville Pines a. 18 7 SPRING PLANTING TIME! | Flowering Shrubs Shade Trees Evergreens Vines Groundcover Annuals Sheep & Cow Manure City staff to look at options for compensating charities in loss of bingo revenue Back to the drawing board: Chronicle Staff Local bingo operators have not yet seen a reprieve from paying this year‘s licensing fees to the city of Waterloo, but it seems relief could be on the Waterloo council voted 43 Monday night that city staff should go back to the drawing board and find options for compensating the many local * Fertitizers * Hedging * Broadleat Evergreens * Ornamental Trees * Rose Bushes * Perennials 5t vent (519) 821â€"7982 charities who have suffered financial loss through bingo operations since the impleâ€" mentation of the regionwide noâ€"smoking bylaw. A possible option suggested could see a combination of waiving part of over $101,600 in licensing fees for the bingo halls, as well as providing a cash grant directly to the charâ€" wes. The cash grant would serve as a small bonus for the chariâ€" ties who would only see about 60 per cent of the licensing fees returned, as the other 40 per cent would go directly to the halls‘ landlords The decision was made after representatives from the Mirage Bingo Association, as well as Uptown Bingo and Bingo Bingo which are jointly owned, told council the loss in revenues has added up to a 40â€" 75â€"perâ€"cent decline between the businesses over the last three months. If the current trend continâ€" ues, the groups explained, local charities could see a loss of over $1 million this year in bingo revenue. "We didn‘t want to cry wolf so we waited a few months to see what happens," explained Murray Cloutier, coâ€"president of the Mirage Bingo Associaâ€" tion. "But this is a little demoralâ€" izing. Certain charities want to get out of doing bingos because of this. "We are not asking (for a rebate) for ourselves. It would be to reimburse the citizens who need it in Waterloo." Cloutier also said his busiâ€" ness has tried different methâ€" ods to boost interest in bingo again, such as new prize boards, lower book costs and more advertising. But he said nothing has seemed to work. "We are getting new clienâ€" tele," he said. "But it‘s people who come maybe once every couple of weeks;, whereas we heavily rely on the clientele we had who were more regular. They were like family; we knew them by name." When asked how long he foresees his business requiring a reprieve from paying the fees, Cloutier predicted it would be at least six months before a significant improveâ€" ment will be seen. "Looking into a crystal ball," he said, "it‘s looking pretty gloomy." Coun. Sean Strickiand reminded council of its responsibility to community groups such as the charities who benefit from the bingo halls "The smoking bylaw has had a negative effect, and as elected officials we‘ve underesâ€" timated the affect it would have on the bingos," he said. "We can‘t control certain aspects, the bylaw itself for The WATERLOO REGIONAL HERITAGE FOUNDAâ€" TION is a nonâ€"profit Corporation funded by Regional Council for the purpose of assisting organizations and indiâ€" viduals in the preservation of the heritage and culture of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The Board of Directors meets at 12:00 NOON on the 4th Tuesday of each month, except July, August and December. in the Conference Centre, Regional Administration Building, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario The Byâ€"laws of the Foundation provide for the election of ten membersâ€"atâ€"large to its Board of Directors. As of the Annual Meeting, there will be six vacancies to be filled Applications may be obtained at the Regional Clerk‘s Office, 2nd Floor, Regional Administration Building, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener OR by calling 575â€"4785 and should be returned to the Secretary on or before May 1. ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD AT THE ANNUAL MEETING on June 13, 2000 Sean Strickland en es t xi by The Watarics Regional Heritage Foundation of the WATERLOO REGIONAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION Ceon o CaAQ) , flom " ‘ \l‘;‘.’:‘ 'I-H dhm ELECTIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mrs. E. Orth, CMO Secretary WATERLOO REGIONAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION 2nd Floor, Clerk‘s Office Regional Administration Building 150 Frederick Street KITCHENER. Ontano N2G 413 one. But we have to try to bring some kind of balance to the charities." Coun. Mike Connolly, while acknowledging personal symâ€" pathy towards the delegations, pointed out that if the fees are waived, those figures will eventually be made up via the taxpayers‘ pockets. "I don‘t think we should be making up any businesses‘ losses with the taxpayers‘ money," said the chairman of the finance committee. "As a taxpayer, 1 don‘t want the city to determine which charities my money should go towards. I don‘t think we should take away that choice. "If the taxpayers wanted to support this, they would go out and play bingo and not smoke. "This is a problem made by the region, it should be solved by the region." _ Strickland said given the surpluses the city has seen during budget deliberations, he is confident staff can come up with a "creative" way of covering the losses. Coun. Bruce Alexander added, since council made the decision to have three bingo halls in the community, they should not turn their backs on the groups through this time of crisis. "It‘s not about raising taxes," he said. "It‘s about helping charities who have been hurt by this unfair bylaw."