A request by the Borderland Thunder to change its status from “non-resident” to “resident youth rate” regarding user fees at the Memorial Sports Centre was approved by town council Monday night.
The change, which will be retroactive to the start of the 2004-05 season, also will include a similar fee structure for access to the fitness centre there.
“They wanted it so that access to the fitness center would be part of their ice rentals,” Community Services manager George Bell said before council’s decision.
“They’ve asked that we would apply the resident rate to them and they would get a credit for the difference,” Bell added.
The Community Services executive committee met with Thunder general manager Brent Tookenay, Thunder head coach Dave Allison, and Couchiching Chief Chuck McPherson on Feb. 21, who made requests that would help the “operating costs of their organization.”
“We’re linked together and they’re trying to keep the hockey team in the area for the good of the area and the town, and we’re cognizant of that fact and we’re trying to make some arrangements for them,” said Coun. Struchan Gilson, who chairs the Community Services executive committee.
“They said that if we could help them in any we could, even a few dollars here or there, [that] would help them stay. And then maybe they could join the Manitoba [Junior Hockey] League, which is where they’re trying to get into,” Coun. Gilson added
“They were quite positive about joining the [MJHL],” he noted.
“This is a win/win situation for both the Thunder and the Sportsplex,” Tookenay wrote in a letter to Bell.
“As we look to the future, and the opportunity to join the Manitoba Junior Hockey League is becoming a reality, [this] means more home games, which also means more money for the community and its businesses,” he added.
Coun. Gilson didn’t see any other option than changing the team’s fee structure since the Thunder were behind in paying their monthly dues (the exact amount was not divulged).
“Community Services and Memorial Sports Centre has around a $300,000 budget a year, so when we budget, if somebody doesn’t pay their bill, then it obviously impacts on the budget and has to picked up somewhere,” he added.
“The bill goes out from the [treasurer] and then goes to the Thunder and then they have to pay it,” Coun. Gilson explained. “And if it’s not paid, then a letter is sent in that they didn’t pay to George Bell, and then he has to make a decision as to what to do.
“My understanding is they’ve made five payments, which takes them to the end of December, and they have come to us for some relief,” he noted.
Coun. Gilson acknowledged the town was caught in a tough spot.
“They [the Thunder] haven’t paid their bill, and we could insist they pay [or] then take them off the ice, but how does that help?
“This is a difficult situation,” he added. “If you make it retroactive from the beginning of the year, then in a sense they’ve overpaid.
“The way I looked at it is that if they do die, then we get nothing, but if we do keep them going and can get into the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, then maybe they can make a go of it,” reasoned Coun. Gilson.
“In a sense, we really didn’t have any other choice. We really don’t have a choice—either we support them in some way or if they die, then we get nothing,” he stressed.
“Is this good business? I just wish we had tighter controls at the beginning. We’re kind of caught, but what can we do?” Coun. Gilson concluded.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
