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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Es ES RS Sa SPT Bl Ul GE os Aoi 3 NS SA I Re RE RL ARTE ESLSS coud Ed yon | ae « ' Rink rates going up in Blackstock By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The cost of renting ice at the Blackstock arena is going up. The idea of raising ice fees was brought up at a Blackstock Rec Centre committee meeting held Feb. 28. The increase is just one of the many ways in which township -offi- cials are looking at trim- * ming operating costs as they prepare the town- ship budget for 2001. The proposed hike, which could range any- where between 3 and 5 per cent, seemed to be acceptable, said Fred Ford, a member of the Cartwright committee. "It's pretty reasonable when you look at the numbers," he said. "We haven't yet determined how much exactly the increase will be, but there's going to. have to be some sort of hike." Mr. Ford stressed that the increase would affect only those paying to use the ice, and 'not hall rentals. "We're all feeling the pinch, and 3 to 5 per cent seems to be pretty rea- Ford sonable. Once you take a look at what was spent last year on heat and hydro... you can see it," he said. "None of the people there who represented . the user groups were sur- prised at all. They seemed to understand and we all want to keep - the facility open." There are two rates for the Blackstock arena: adults pay $85 per hour, while youth groups pay about $65. The arena is primarily used by Blackstock Minor Hockey, as well as local curling and figure skating Some huts left on 'lake as deadline for removal passes By Chris Hall Port Perry Star A number of ice fish- ing huts remain on Lake Scugog although the deadline for their removal passed last week, say Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) officials. According to Bill Fisher, a Conservation Officer with the MNR, about 10 huts were left on Lake Scugog after the Feb. 28 deadline. "There were a num- ber of them left on the ice, but not a great deal," he told The Star last week. "There were about 10 of them left, and we're following up on them." There were a few with no registration numbers, and some that were burned or destroyed, he said. "There weren't a great deal of them left this year; in a normal year we get under 10 or so, depending on the was lots of ice and plen- ty of snow, so there was no problem getting them off this year," he said. MNR officials are now investigating the huts that were left on the ice after the deadline. Those who own the huts can expect hefty fines, said Mr. Fisher. The cost of leaving a hut on the ice starts at about $190; that fine could be charged each day the hut is left on the ice. The owners of any huts in "major distress, those burned or having their numbers altered", said Mr. Fisher, are guar- anteed a trip to court. Meanwhile, residents are reacting to a move by Scugog Township council to ban perma- nent ice huts on the lake during the winter. Letters received by The Star after a story appeared last Friday objected to such a clubs. The curling club has a contract with the township, and therefore their fees will not be hiked. Ward 3 €ouncillor Jim McMillen, who was in attendance at the meet- ing, also confirmed that a fee hike is on the way. "We haven't settled on an amount, but it'll be somewhere between 3 and 5 per cent," he said. "Basically we have to accept that the cost of running the place has gone up, and we have to match that. | "Everyone under- stands that there is a facility using energy there and that has a cost." Once the Blackstock Rec Centre committee gives the final okay for the hike at their upcom- ing meeting, it will be presented before Scugog Council for their approval. It is hoped that the increase will be approved in the near future, giving user groups the chance to explain the hikes at their annual gen- eral meetings, and adjust their fees in time for next season. Res Receive 10% off with your Brock's = Card be used as an excuse for ic sentiment against a i Ge anglers not to remove pan ee their huts this year, said Councillors have + A | Mr. Fisher. : invited MNR officials to -"The ice conditions , meeting, at which were tremendous. There hey'|| discuss the issue. weather conditions." move, and a street poll The weather couldn't 5cals also found pub-