By Nigel Maxwell

City council approves rate increase

Oct 15, 2014 | 6:27 AM

Prince Albert and area residents will be paying more next year to use the rink, swim in the city’s pools or rent the hall for a wedding.

A 5.1 per cent rate increase was passed during Tuesday night’s city council meeting, but not without a lengthy discussion first.

Several city councillors addressed the rate increase, and responded to concerns they’re hearing from people in their respective wards.

One of those concerns was why Cooke Municipal Golf Course was not among the group of facilities affected by the rate increase.

Counc. Martin Ring explained the City has operated for 25 years, with all the profits and the surplus from the golf course operation, offsetting the costs of the other buildings.

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“The golf course has been pulled out of the equation now because it is the one entity that can charge almost, and I will say that almost, 100 per cent of the cost recovery. Most of these facilities are going to be operating at a 60 per cent cost recovery, some as low as 50 per cent or 40 per cent,” said Ring.

Director of community services Jody Boulet confirmed the rate increase will recover some expenses, but added he added there will be some fluctuation between facilities.

Counc. Lee Atkinson suggested there might be a better way to recover expenses, and that is by following the example of the E.A Rawlinson Centre, which has a capital cost for every ticket sold. The money goes into a reserve for capital improvements of that facility.

“There’s always that discussion that the user should pay, rather than just the tax payers. Quite frankly if we have a reserve built up from the users, who think it’s a great and wonderful thing, I think that would be worthwhile and at least could share in the improvements or repairs and maintenance,” said Atkinson.

Counc. Rick Orr supported Atkinson, and suggested the City could look at this model during budget discussions.

Mayor Greg Dionne had his own suggestion on how the City could save money at its facilities. Over the Thanksgiving long-weekend Dionne noticed the parking lot at the Alfred Jenkins Field House was nearly empty.

“And so I wonder if we track stat holidays. We should look at that. If we are open for 10 people I have an issue with that. If we are open for 100 people, I don’t have a problem with that,” said Dionne.

Boulet responded to the Mayor’s comment, by suggesting the ball was already in motion.

“You’ll notice in the 2015 budget package, when it does come out, that one of the things we are proposing is at the Field House to reduce some of our operating hours, and some of our stat holidays as well.”

Boulet said they have noticed less traffic at the Field House during the early morning and late evening hours. He projects the city could save about $17,000.

Other council notes

The City’s “easy guide to recycling” is being mailed out Wednesday.

The brochure comes as the garbage pickup schedule changes from weekly to bi-weekly.

The cost of the brochure program is $12,000, paid for entirely by North Central Waste Management.

City council has also sent a strongly worded letter to the Provincial Government, namely the minister of justice.  The letter calls for a Safer Communities and Neighbourhood positon and Liquor Inspector in the City of Prince Albert.

nmaxwell@panow.com

Twitter: @nigelmaxwell