Yellowknife (June 20/03) - The gymnastics club's $110,000 financial lifeline is expected to be awarded through the city one way or another.

The club asked council for a repayable grant in April, but council referred it to administrators until Monday to find the money and how it should be given.

Administrators suggested taking money from a small construction project, but council couldn't decide if the gymnastics club should repay some or none of the grant.

"The city, I believe, is mostly responsible for the predicament the gymnastics club find themselves in today," said Coun. Dave Ramsay.

Ramsay said the city should take some responsibility for the late opening of the Multiplex, which is the reason the club is in debt, and award the club a grant.

The club went into debt when the late opening of the Multiplex cost them an entire year's revenue.

The club had to pay employees during the 10-month delay, or risk losing them.

Elaine Keenan Bengst, president of the gymnastics club, even mortgaged her home to keep the club afloat.

But several council members weren't prepared to take any blame for the Multiplex delays.

"I really have problems with the suggestion that the city is at fault for this," said Coun. Ben McDonald.

"At this time I certainly don't feel comfortable assigning blame for the construction of this facility."

Coun. Wendy Bisaro suggested the city award 50 per cent of the $110,000 requested as a grant and the other 50 per cent as a repayable grant.

Council will vote on how the money will be awarded in council on June 24.

Councillors said they wanted to make it clear the club is only getting this money, because they raised over 80 per cent of the cost of their facility.

The project proposed for deferral is the Somba K'e Park Shop that will house a Zamboni for the skating oval on Frame Lake. The shop will be built when Gerry Murphy Arena is demolished sometime next year.