When the funds come in, they’ll go out, council decided after a discussion surrounding when to fund the welcome pole commissioned by the Community Association of Oak Bay.
Council approved more than $6,000 last year and more than $13,000 this year, totalling a $20,000 contribution to the COAB’s $88,500 budget for the artwork.
Coun. Hazel Braithwaite was concerned about the fiscal responsibility of providing the cash for an unfinished project up front. Only Coun. Kevin Murdoch agreed with the concern over liability should the project fail.
“I’m a little uncomfortable they’re at 50 per cent,” he said. “I don’t know that [waiting] is causing any hardships to anybody.”
Sno’uyuth, which means spreading good energy, was designed by master carver Butch Dick and is being carved by his son Clarence Dick. COAB plans to raise the pole at the new Oak Bay High School, on school district land, this fall.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com