The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Swimmers who live outside Flin Flon will soon be charged more than residents to use the Aqua Centre as city council aims to level the paying field between the two groups. Effective Sept. 1, non-resident swimmers, including those from Creighton and Denare Beach, will generally pay 42 per cent more than residents, who already fund the pool through their property taxes. 'This isn't our preferred method, it's the one that's open to us,' Mayor George Fontaine said Tuesday after city council voted to implement the new fee system. Mayor Fontaine said council's preference remains a funding deal with neighbouring communities that helps pay for the Aqua Centre and other Flin Flon public facilities used regionally. 'But in the meantime we're feeling that it's come to the time where we have to make a point,' he said, 'that just says, 'Look, we're paying the bills for too many people and we need to get some income from somewhere else.'' While the non-resident fees could be revoked if community-level funding deals are reached, there are indications they have the support of the public. See 'Worries' on pg. Continued from pg. 'I have had, from the first day I got on council, residents saying, 'Do a surcharge for non-residents,'' said Coun. Karen MacKinnon, 'and I think every councillor in the room would agree with me on that one.' But not everyone did agree, with Coun. Colleen McKee the lone voice of opposition. Making it clear that she was sharing her personal opinion, Coun. McKee said she worries non-resident fees discourage people from using a facility and 'will be the eventual shutdown of the facility.' She said she would prefer to see communities or households pay 'a one-time annual fee' to utilize all of the public facilities, not just one. The vote nonetheless passed with Coun. McKee opposed. Coun. Tim Babcock was absent. The pool's new fee structure will see non-residents pay an extra 42 per cent _ anywhere from $1.75 to $150 _ in most categories. Swimming lessons are the exception, as all levels of classes will charge an extra $22 across the board above what residents pay. Whereas general admission for an adult to use the Aqua Centre once is $4.75, non-residents will pay an extra $2, for a total of $6.75. For a yearly pass, individual adult residents will pay $222 and non-residents an extra $93.25 for a total of $315.25. At the weight room, residents will pay $179.25 for a yearly pass, with non-residents charged an extra $75.50 for an overall tab of $254.75. The biggest impact will be on non-resident families who buy annual passes. Whereas Flin Flon families pay $357.75, outside families will dole out another $150 for a total of $507.75. Youngsters free General admission for children under the age of five remains free, regardless of where they live. Mayor Fontaine said 'it wouldn't be a surprise' if some visitors to the pool are asked to show ID to prove their place of residence. Regular users won't have to show ID after it's been established where they live, he said. At this point, the intent of the fee is not to increase revenues at the Aqua Centre, but to maintain income levels currently being generated. 'Obviously whenever you increase the fees in something that has a retail dimension to it, there's a potential that you're going to lose some people,' said Chief Administrative Officer Mark Kolt. 'So it's not clear what the net financial effect will be. Administration's best guess is that we won't actually lose money on it.' Mayor Fontaine agreed that 'we don't know for sure how it's going to turn out until it turns out,' but said one outcome of the fee is that 'there is a message being sent.' '...the major facilities we have, recreational facilities, in this community are funded by (Flin Flon) taxpayers and used by all kinds of other people as well,' he said, 'which is something we want to continue to happen, but we are encouraging other communities and other community levels to join us in some kind of a package that would allow us not to have to do the kind of thing that we're doing now (implementing non-resident fees). The best is if we can come to some agreements like that. ' To that end, Coun. MacKinnon said the city is 'in the process of starting talks with Creighton and Denare Beach' on a funding deal. Asked whether council would be adding non-resident fees to other public facilities, Mayor Fontaine left the door open. 'We are working on it, it's on an as-we-go basis. I won't commit to anything yet,' he said. Until the Aqua Centre fees take effect on Sept. 1, the only public facility in Flin Flon with a special fee for non-residents is the library. Residents pay nothing to borrow books, but non-residents _ with the exception of Creighton and Denare Beach residents, whose municipalities help fund the library _ pay a $20 annual fee.
