Hockeyville money for kids?

Hockeyville prize money will not go toward purchasing a highway sign directing people to municipal hall and the Mount Boucherie Complex in West Kelowna.

The idea, which was not widely popular with residents of West Kelowna, was shot down during council's budget deliberations Tuesday.

The sign would have cost $125,000 with $100,000 coming from the 2013 municipal budget.

West Kelowna Mayor, Doug Findlater, says the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure basically vetoed the sign.

"They said that the sign would not go ahead if they had anything to say about it," says Findlater.

The mayor says he's like to disconnect the Hockeyville money from the sign issue.

He says the sign has been in works for about five years, ever since Royal LePage Place was finished.

"(We'll have to) Go back to the committee and find out what we'll be able to do with that money that creates the legacy that will satisfy the committee," says Findlater.

"We want to consider the input of the (Hockeyville) committee and find something that works that still has public support."

He adds the municipality may be in a position to match the money obtained from Hockeyville which would become a $50,000 legacy.

Findlater acknowledges there was a lot of backlash from the community when it was announced the money could go towards a highway sign.

A poll on Castanet showed 92 per cent of people responding against the idea.

"I heard from the public that they wanted it to go to kids - they wanted it to go to youth hockey in some way," says Findlater.

"Allowing low income youth the opportunity to get into hockey, providing equipment and someone even mentioned there was a lack of a place to store nets."

A decision on where the funds will go is expected sometime later this year.