Non-resident rate removed from Family Centre rate fees

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

The discussion on whether or not people outside of town should pay a different rate to use the Family Centre was once again argued when the Fees Bylaw Amendment was brought forward to council on Oct. 15.
Each year town administration, and town departments, review the bylaw to ensure everything is accurate and up-to-date. A few changes were suggested, and a recommendation of third reading was given by administration.
Councillor Brad Walls questioned the non-resident fee that is charged to anyone not living in the town using the arena.
As of last year it was stated that the fee brought an additional $15,700 of revenue.
“I’m not sure I can support us charging our rural non-resident fee to Wheatland County residents, or to residents that are not a part of the Town of Strathmore. My rationale for this, is obviously on average it costs us about $2 million to run those facilities, the little bit of revenue we get back, I wonder if we couldn’t use that as a bit of an opportunity to start working closer with our rural partners,” said Walls.
The resident fee for ice rentals per hour for youth is $128.40, and $186.95 for an adult during peak hours. The non-resident rates are $148.30 for youth, and $226.85 for adults. Seasonal passes for residents range from $32.75 to $130.90, and from $45.80 to $143.95 for non-residents.
“This isn’t necessarily about the amount of money. This is about being fair to our taxpayers. If we were not to charge non-residents an extra charge, than that would mean our non-residents that come to our facility actually pay less than our taxpayers,” said Councillor Bob Sobol.
He argued that Strathmore residents get hit twice, once on their taxes and on their use of the facility. Sobol said this is about being fair to Strathmore taxpayers who are paying for these facilities.
Councillor Pat Fule questioned if maybe the way it is named is the problem, and suggested maybe it should be called a user fee. Councillor Denise Peterson said while she appreciated what Sobol was saying, another issue is that 70 per cent of the hockey players, and approximately 75 per cent of ringette players in this community are using the rural community arenas and are not paying more to do so.
“We need to work really hard to rid ourselves if the divisiveness that this has wrought for $15,000. I acknowledge Councillor Sobol makes a point, but I just don’t think that it has value,” said Peterson.
A motion to remove the non-resident fee for the Family Centre and change the name of resident fee and non-resident fee titles to just user fee was given, and passed.
Another motion made in the fire services section of the bylaw to include behind the term per hour the words ‘or portion thereof’ because the charges in there were per hour but if it is only half an hour then the charge would be less. The motion was passed.
Also discussed were the rates for the cemetery and burying a loved one. One concern raised was when someone loses a member of the family; they will have to pick and choose what day to get buried. There are additional charges for weekends and holidays, and in the winter.
Municipal Clerk Jennifer Sawatzky said the weekend and holiday fees are the overtime fees for staff to go in and help with the burials. The winter costs is because it is more difficult to dig graves, and sometimes other contractors have to be hired to do the work for them.
Councillor Rocky Blokland wondered if it wouldn’t be better to have one flat charge for burials year round. Councillor Brad Walls made a motion for a flat $500 fee. That motion was defeated.
The bylaw has only made it to second reading, and will not be passed until it receives third reading. It will be brought back to the Nov. 5 meeting.