CITY COUGHS UP $10,000 FOR DRUG ACTION STAFF

City Hall Has Shown Its Resolve In Backing A New Anti-Drug Campaign.

Lloydminster's newest weapon against drugs, the Drug Strategy and
Action Committee, has been gaining steam in recent weeks, acquiring
new members and setting goals and priorities -- now, they need some
cash. Earlier this week, the City of Lloydminster stepped up to the
plate, approving a three-year financial commitment of $10,000.

Lysyk said the purpose of the funding is to secure a basic budget
and enable the organization to employ a full-time drug coordinator
to accomplish its means and objectives. A personnel search is
currently underway after having been approved by the board and
executive committee.

"What we really need to do is have a backstop," Lysyk said. "The
$10,000 will be each year for three years to backstop the salaried
person that's coming in. We'll also be receiving conditional grants
for certain programming and other activities but if those fall away
or we don't qualify, we don't want a crisis at the end of the road."

The DSAC has about a dozen member organizations. Although all these
groups are active members, not every organization can afford to help
finance the drug committee.

"We know some of the other major groups who are stakeholders in this
committee can afford it; some of the smaller ones we just wouldn't
ask," Lysyk said. "Some of them are charities that are raising money
for their own cause."