INUVIK - The Inuvik Curling Club will survive another season after the group's president managed to hammer out a deal with town that would have the town cover most of its utilities for the year.

"It's a fair deal for now," said Nick Saturnino. "We've got what we wanted for this year. It gives us time to try to make the club sustainable. But we have a lot of work to do."

Nick Saturnino, Inuvik Curling Club president, takes a break from a game at the curling rink on Monday. He said he's relieved that council agreed to help fund the group, allowing it to carry on operations for another year. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The club will receive a reprieve of $55,000 to keep it afloat while the group continues on with its season while trying to generate revenues. The group will pay the town $30,000 which will be split to cover the lease payment to the town and a portion of utilities.

The agreement brings to an end about a month of discussions between Saturnino and the town which centred on trying to save the club. Saturnino met with council last month after being rejected for a bingo series by the town this year, which was its lifeline, generating about $80,000 for the club.

Council responded to the club's proposal at a meeting on Oct. 14.

Only four councillors attended the meeting, including Clarence Wood, George Doolittle, Terry Halifax and Vince Brown. About seven curling club members were in attendance. Wood and Doolittle opposed giving the money over to the group and argued that the reprieve was virtually a handout because the town couldn't recoup a significant portion of the $55,000 through use of the lounge area, located on the second floor of the Midnight Sun Complex, during the time periods proposed by the club.

Meanwhile Brown was in support of the proposal as long the town had access to the bar area during the weekend. Halifax argued that the money would be well spent, citing the contribution the club has made to the community over the years and the fact that the town already subsidizes several other sports groups.

"Fifty-five thousand dollars is the difference between a full and part-time mayor," said Halifax, who also rejected the mayor's request to defer the decision to the newly elected council.

Saturnino's revised proposal, which allows the town Saturday access to the lounge, was unanimously carried by council. The town now has the option of using the lounge area, excluding the bar, Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m., on Friday until 6 p.m., and until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Earlier this month the town offered to pay the costs of the club's utilities if it could have access to the facilities six months of the year after the club finished its curling season. That offer was rejected by the club.

Mayor Derek Lindsay said he was upset that it was turned down and by council's decision to approve the club's latest offer.

"I wasn't happy with it at all," he said. "We gave them a fair offer and they rejected it. They didn't want to defer it to the new council. It should have been the new council's decision. To give $55,000 in utilities is a blatant disregard for tax dollars. There was only four councillors in attendance. That's coming out of the next budget."

Saturnino said, for now, the club will use the facilities throughout the season and as a way to generate more revenue and he said the club hasn't ruled out giving up the bar area to the town.

"For the right deal I'm willing to give that to them," said Saturnino. "We're working on our end. We're meeting with the town over another possible solution. We're in the early stages."