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, which is currently under construction.
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 the 2014-2015 season.
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.
These options will be discussed with user groups during a special Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled for Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.
The Town of Smithers has estimated the new arena's annual operating costs to be between $167,000 and $192,000.
For more information on the second sheet of ice project, go to http://www.smithers.ca/news/detail/smithers-new-arena-project-2013.
The complete story will be in the Feb. 12 edition of The Interior News.