Council approves blended rate

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

The Town of Strathmore and the Wheatland Kings Junior B Hockey team came to an understanding on July 8, by introducing a blended rate for the Wheatland Kings – a permanent rate that will prove beneficial for all young adult competitive teams.
The Wheatland Kings addressed the issue of a blended rate with council last July, in hopes of cheaper ice rental fees, which in turn provide a chance for the team’s revival.
Without a blended rate already in place – an action that requires specific processes – town council agreed to allow the team to be charged the youth rate for one year and thus provide them with a leg up. While the decision proved beneficial to the players, aged 17 to 24, town council’s revenues took a hit of a couple thousand dollars. With the 2014-2015 season in the past, council was asked to consider a blended rate going forward to please both parties.
“When we started to think about what we’re going to do this year, the blended rate came up throughout the year in talking with minor hockey and the Wheatland Kings, and I think it’s a great solution because they don’t really fit either category,” said Tracy Simpson, community services coordinator for the Town of Strathmore.
“They’re not youths and they’re not adults, and we want to make sure that the programs is successful and these players can afford to play this level of hockey at their age. But we also want to make sure that we’re still being financially prudent to the facility and the taxpayers.”
The blended rate of $157.50 for prime time is sandwiched in between the adult rates of $186.95 and youth rate of $128.40. The non prime time rate for all three categories remains constant at $116.20.
Although the Wheatland Kings will be charged a substantially lower fee than at an adult rate, the team will be paying $5,000 more than last year.
“They gave us the youth rate, which is the same as what the minor hockey teams paid, to give us a hand up at the kick off year,” said Wheatland Kings president Mike Langen.
“Obviously it’s going to be quite a bit more costly for our team but we’re ok with that. That’s kind of where we are, in that difference between minor hockey and adult pick-up hockey. I’m really happy with council’s decision and their support for us. We were worried that it was going to be a full adult rate and then that would’ve put some serious dampers on the season.”
The roster is made up of 25 athletes that are either busy working or attending post-secondary education. The Strathmore Minor Hockey Association and the Strathmore Wheatland Kings Jr. Hockey Association struck an agreement in early 2014, to revive the Junior B team for the 2014-2015 season.
“I find this to be a fairly ingenious way of dealing with this issue and I appreciate the direction you have gone, so I totally support this,” said Councillor Bob Sobol to administration at the regular council meeting on July 8 when the issue was brought before council.
Council gave third and final reading to the Fees Bylaw Amendment Bylaw to allow for the blended rate to take effect. Councillor Pat Fule and Councillor Brad Walls were not in attendance.