Local groups are asking for a freeze on ice rates to keep parents out of the cold as they try to keep youngsters involved in local Sports.
Archie Wilson of the Palmerston Junior Broomball League spoke on behalf of the five groups making the petition to council on Oct. 6.
Groups included the broomball league, Clifford Skating Club, Clifford Minto Hockey, Harriston Skating Club, and the Palmerston Skating Club.
In a report to council, recreation program coordinator Matt Lubers forwarded a recommendation that council consider adopting a the three year ice rates fee structure with Minto Minor Hockey as the rate for Minto youth organized Sports ice fee structure.
Lubers stated that in June, Minto Minor Sports approached council to express concern over the impact of the HST on how that organization operates.
Sales tax on ice rentals would rise from 5% to 13%, leaving the group in a situation where it would in turn have to increase registration fees.
At that time, Minto Minor Hockey president Ryan Cheery and vice-president Joel Martin presented a three year rate structure for council to consider.
Now other groups would like the same thing.
Lubers said that following discussion, “The concept of creating a Minto Youth Organized Sport ice fee structure to cover all of these organizations seems fair and equitable.”
However, there are definitions of what comprises an identifiable youth organized sport and the group has an organizational bank account or is affiliated with an athletic association in its said sport.
“The intent is to assist youth organized Sports that provide Sports opportunities open to all the youth in Minto.
There is an impact to the municipality however, as Lubers pointed out that adopting the proposal would mean approximate annual decreases of $10,000 in ice fees for those groups.
Mayor David Anderson said council had passed the revised rates for Minto Minor Hockey. The proposal was to freeze rates to last year and to gradually increase them.
“We were more than willing to help. We know the HST has been a burden to us all. We basically anticipated this meeting tonight.”
Wilson said “We are all providing opportunities for Minto youth to become involved in Minto Sports and the personal development which comes with it. It’s pretty important and it’s the future of our communities.”
All groups have been affected by the HST and the proposed rate increases, he added.
He said the potential impact of increasing registration costs would have a detrimental impact on enrollment, which, in turn, would have a direct hit to the bottom line of a group’s ability to operate.
“We’re pressing council to adopt a similar approach to that it has taken with Minto Minor Hockey.
“We’d like an equitable position to move forward.”
Anderson said one of the things to concentrate on is the youth of Minto.
Council considered a resolution that Minto adopt the three year ice rate structure, as previously adopted for Minto Minor Hockey, as the Minto Organized Sport Ice Fee.
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen echoed the same thoughts as when the proposal for Minto Minor Hockey came forward earlier in the year.
“All these groups are asking for a three-year term, but while we can recommend or suggest to a new council, only the 2010-2011 ice rates really hold water.”
She said she believes it will be up to the next council to have another look at it – or at least have the opportunity to look at it.
The other issue, she said, is the impact based on last year’s hours (1,800, including tournaments and events), that is about $5,700.
“We do have a deficit with our arenas. We all know that. So that money still has to be recovered. The idea of the rate increases in the first place was to cover our increasing costs. Those funds will need to be made up by other taxpayers in Minto,” Dirksen said.
She stressed she was not speaking against the motion, but that they would be points council needs to consider.
“We certainly have to support our kids. But there may be other ways to support them.”
At the same time, she said time was of the essence in this particular matter.
Councillor Rick Hembly contended that he did not believe the revenue loss was as important as supporting the young people in the community.
Councillor Wayne Martin stressed “If we don’t have the youth, we don’t want to be here,” Martin said.
Councillor Dave Turton agreed that ice time is certainly one of the biggest costs for these groups.
