107th Year - Week 7
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
www.interior-news.com
Single Copy • $1.30 ($1.24 + 6¢ GST)
PM 40007014
Money raised to date:
$240,120 GOAL
$400,000 NEW ARENA DONATIONS
Anonymous: $5,000
ZONE CHAMPS Midget Storm defeat Bears to advance.
SPORTS/A13
DAHLIE DAY Amelia Simmons crosses the finish line at the Chris Dahlie Open on Sunday. Thirty-six cross-country skiers of all ages competed in the day-long event. For the full story, turn to page A14. Nolan Kelly photo
ELDER MOURNED Hundreds pay respects to Gisday’wa.
THREE RIVERS/B1
INSIDE LETTERS A7 SPORTS A8 COMMUNITY A15 OUR TOWN A16 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B11
Arena users to discuss fees with town By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News
The Town of Smithers is considering increasing arena user fees by as much as 30 per cent to cover the operating costs of the second sheet of ice. At the Feb. 4 Finance Committee meeting, councillors approved motions to
increase user fees for youth and adults by 20 and 30 per cent, respectively, to start in 2014-2015. Another motion was passed to continue looking into the viability of a three-tiered recreation card for arena users. The changes are just recommendations at this point and are not yet set in stone, cautioned Andrew
Hillaby, Town of Smithers director of recreation, parks and culture. There will be a period of public consultation before any fees are increased, added councillor and Finance Committee chair Mark Bandstra. “I think we’re working toward a pretty good solution, which will result in only a very small tax
increase [to cover the arena operating costs],” Bandstra said. “That’s where we’re aimed. “It’s a fine line between cost recovery, which is what we’re aiming for, and not overpricing it to the point where we start losing those that want to get extra ice time or start new programs.” Currently, the cost
Friday thru Sunday! see page A-20
Chatter’s Fresh or Frozen Pizzas Assorted Varieties
2
$
for youth to rent the arena in the winter is about $70/hr. Adults pay almost $155/hr. Included in the rental fee is a $5 reserve charge for youth and $10 for adults that was designed to help pay for the second rink’s operating cost. “We’ve always had a policy at council where we subsidize the costs for youth and we aim at full
OFF
plus receive a free 2 litre Coke product with every purchase of a Chatter’s Pizza
cost recovery for adults,” Bandstra said. “The idea being, of course, is to have a variety of affordable things for youth to do.” The Town of Smithers has estimated the new arena’s annual operating costs to be between $167,000 and $192,000. See ARENA on A3