Pro North Hockey will have to pay an additional 20 per cent to rent the Barrhead Agrena’s ice rink for its summer hockey camp.
That is what councillors told Chris and Paul Driessen, owners of Pro North Hockey, in front of a gallery of 20 people during their regular Jan. 10 meeting.
Councillors unanimously agreed to the increase after hearing from the Driessens about their concern that the town’s recreation department was going to increase the ice rates for the upcoming 2017 summer season (starting mid August to mid September), $130/hour from $85/hour. Councillors also instructed administration to undertake a review of the fee structure at all of its recreation facilities.
The subject of summer ice first came to council’s attention during its Dec. 13 meeting when administration asked council for direction on whether the recreation department should increase its summer ice rates to offset the cost of an additional dehumidifier or installing a special reflective ceiling, estimated at $110,000 and $51,000 respectively, to combat the high humidity in the building when the summer ice is installed.
Mayor Gerry St. Pierre said the discussion about the summer ice program was initiated in part by council’s attempt to reduce the Agrena’s operating deficit. In 2017, it is expected the operating deficit for the Agrena will be about $450,000.
The Driessens said while they understood the need for the town to increase its ice rates, admitting Barrhead ice rates on average are lower than those in nearby communities the increase being proposed is above what was quoted to them last summer.
In the information package provided to council, it noted very few communities actually offered summer ice. Out of the 15 communities the town contacted, only St. Albert responded as having summer ice at a price of $190/hour. Although it is noted Whitecourt and Westlock, while not having summer ice specifically, do install their ice in late August and charge $145 and $168 per hour for adults, respectively. St. Pierre said the town chose the $135/hour rate because as a commercial venture it was thought Pro North should be paying the adult ice rate.
“We do agree that we need to be at the $135/hour rate, but the only problem is that we have already budgeted for our next camp using the rates we were quoted,” Paul said.
Chris agreed, adding if they had to absorb the cost this year, they would have to make substantial changes that would impact the quality of the camp.
“Every year, Pro North Hockey brings in a guest speaker who educates players and parents, not only about hockey, but life,” she said, adding past speakers have included Todd Herman, a mental toughness coach from New York, and Darryl Sutter, former NHL player and current Los Angeles Kings coach. “This $40 per hour increase, totaling $4,451, comes from the camp’s budget, which means we would not be able to bring in a guest speaker and would have to go with a smaller coaching staff.”
The Driessens also noted that their hockey camp has been in Barrhead since the Agrena opened to the benefit of the community.
“During the two week (camp), we rely strongly on our community to make it the success it has become. Everything is sourced locally,” she said, adding it also brings people into the community who then shop and use the town’s facilities.
The Driessens also questioned whether an additional dehumidifier is needed and would actually address the condensation issue, saying they only noticed the issue this summer, adding an experienced caretaker, who was providing holiday relief, might have been part of the issue.
“When Ernie returned conditions improved,” Chris said.
Pro North concluded their presentation by saying they didn’t believe cancelling the summer ice program was the best way to cut costs.
“If the ice doesn’t go in before the rodeo (Wildrose Rodeo Final), our hockey teams, will have to rent ice elsewhere. In fact, this past fall the rodeo was in (the Agrena) one week earlier than past years and the Barrhead Minor Hockey Association had to rent ice in Westlock,” Chris said.
Coun. Don Smith asked Shallon Touet, parks and recreation director, which would be the easier for staff to prepare for the fall hockey season, having ice in summer or no ice.
Currently, to prepare for the rodeo, staff puts a layer of woodchips on top of the ice, before bringing in the dirt needed. After the rodeo, staff have to remove the dirt and then scrape the woodchips which have froze to the ice surface.
“On a bad year to clean everything and cool everything back down I would say between 15 and 20 days,” he said. “I think the way we have been doing it is a quicker turnaround because we just have to peel off the first quarter of an inch of ice and everything else is already in place.”
Coun. Ryan Warehime said they would have to take it one step at a time.
“Whether or not a dehumdifier is necessary we should wait until the pool is built and see how the addition impacts the neighbouring building and then we have to get our ducks in a row, to see what the appropriate rate is whether it be $130, $140 or something else and that we need to review all our user fees across the board,” he said, adding until then he would support finding a compromise with the Driessens for 2017.
St. Pierre concluded discussion by saying the town is under a lot of pressure to reduce the operating deficits at all of its recreation facilities.
“Until the Municipal Affairs minister intervenes, we are set to budget what the County of Barrhead feels is fair and reasonable and for this year it is $62,000 (for the Agrena) or 14 per cent towards the operating deficit, leaving us with $387,000,” he said. “We (council) have some work to do.”
