Mapleton council has approved reduced rental rates for two local organizations utilizing the PMD arena here for fundraising events.
At the Jan. 12 meeting, council approved a reduction on ice and hall rental rates totaling $1,387, or 30 per cent of the total bill, for the Drayton Skating Club for the upcoming Weskate competition on Jan. 30 and 31.
Club president Deb Mantler told council the event will involve 400 skaters from 15 skating clubs in the region and draw about 1,000 people into Drayton over the weekend.
She pointed out being selected to host the prestigious competition is a benefit to the club both financially and in terms of generating interest.
“It is a nice honour when we do receive it. We’ve had it a handful of times,” said Mantler
She added if council agreed to the contribution the township would be considered a sponsor of the event and be recognized with:
– a full page ad in the event program;
– inclusion on the sponsor board;
– eight all-event tickets;
– multiple public address announcements throughout the event;
– a rink board banner to be hung on the glass at the ice surface;
– a “best wishes” note in every skater’s goodie bag;
– opportunity to award medals/certificates to skaters; and
– recognition in the Community News following the event.
Without the reduction, the charges for the event would total $4,622, including $3,295 for ice rental and $1,327 for use of the community hall.
Also at the Jan. 12 meeting, Calvin Martin appeared before council to request a discount on ice rental for an upcoming hockey tournament held in support of the Drayton Youth Centre.
Martin requested organizers be afforded the same discounted ice time rate for the Nov. 18-19 event that the township provides to Drayton Minor Hockey. He also requested the same rate be applied for the 2017 tournament, which will also be held in November.
The tournament involves 12 local teams competing for a small trophy and “bragging rights,” Martin explained.
“We’re looking to raise money,” said Martin, noting the youth centre is a 100 per cent volunteer-run organization, involving “about 25 volunteers that keep the doors open and have a lot of fun with youth there.” When the centre is open he noted, attendance averages between 12 and 20 youth.
Councillor Michael Martin observed that with a $12 per hour difference between the minor hockey rate and the regular rate, over the course of a 20-hour tournament, “We’re talking about 240 bucks and change.”
“While it’s not a huge sum of money, relatively speaking, it’s appreciated,” replied Calvin Martin.
After councillor Martin moved a resolution to provide the youth centre with the requested reduction for the next two years, councillor Lori Woodham asked if this type of request would be handled in the future through a proposed community grants policy.
CAO Brad McRoberts pointed out “we are going to look at a grant program. It hasn’t been approved by council yet.” However, he suggested in the future all such requests would probably need to be filed with the municipality by August. Council approved the requested reduction for the youth centre.
Councillor Dennis Craven then moved a resolution to provide the requested reduction for the skating club.
Woodham questioned the difference in the size of the two donations. “Can someone explain to me the difference? Why we are giving such a huge discount to one organization and not to another?”
McRoberts pointed out the skating club is renting the community hall, as well as the ice surface, which involves different rates.
Woodham suggested council could provide the 30 per cent reduction on the community hall rental and reduce the ice rate to the same one provided for minor hockey and the youth centre.
The resolution to provide the 30 per cent reduction on the full rental was approved with only Woodham opposed.
Mayor Neil Driscoll explained to the delegations and the gallery that council is simultaneously working through the township budget process and considering a policy to standardize and control the cost of grants and rate reductions requested by community groups.
“We’re sitting at, with our arena, at a $380,000 loss already. So that’s where the questions come from. How much more can we subsidize the use of the arena?” he said. “We don’t have to make it show a profit, but I think we have to show our ratepayers that were not accepting such a huge loss every year.”
The mayor said the township is also planning an operational review in an attempt to save money on arena operations through methods like the recent installation of energy efficient LED lighting.
“Don’t take it that we’re not for you groups, but we’re really struggling with how to pay for it all,” Driscoll said. “So thanks for your service to the community and thanks for coming to council to ask, but in the future we have to get a policy in place.”
