The Columbia Valley Bighorns football club is getting a boost from the District of Invermere to irrigate its playing field.

The club made an agreement with the district to cover the cost of water for its field sprinklers for the 2009-10 season, but was facing a more than $1,200 bill for this season. District CAO Chris Prosser told council there wasn’t any agreement in place for this season, but staff had held off on sending the bill out until council could decide if it wanted to charge the club.

“We know they are a fledgling organization that’s still growing and still needs help, so we wanted to bring it back to council,” he said.

Council agreed to give the club an annual grant of up to $1,500 for water for the field. The grant will only be available as long as the club is using the space, which is on privately held land.

While the idea garnered support from all members of council, councillor Greg Anderson said the plan did make him “uncomfortable” since the district doesn’t give water discounts to other recreational users such as the curling club. “It has to be absolutely, unequivocally clear that if they go over $1,500 they pay,” he added.