Minor sports organizations in Saugeen Shores are threatening to leave town if council goes through with an increase to the cost of ice rentals.
Saugeen Shores Minor Hockey Association President Rob Blue told council they have openly discussed moving their games and practices to nearby communities like Paisley and Tara because ice can be rented for about 30-percent of the cost of the same rental in Port Elgin or Southampton.
It currently costs $144 plus tax for an hour of prime time ice in Saugeen Shores, with that cost poised to increase to $148 upon adoption of the 2016 budget.
Blue says some of their rep teams have been booking additional practices in other communities because of the cost savings, pointing out even though minor hockey receives a subsidy from council, those extra practices are outside of minor hockey and are not subsidized.
Janet Dawson is a coach with the Saugeen Shores Skating Club and says she understands council needs to cover as much of the operating costs of the arenas as possible, but declining membership and the rising cost of ice time has resulted in them going elsewhere at times.
"The ice rates go up so high because they're trying to zero-out their costs that we actually go to Durham, Owen Sound, Walkerton, places like that because we can't afford our own ice in our own backyard," says Dawson.
Mayor Mike Smith says it's a balancing act for council, pointing out the arenas each run an annual loss of about $250,000, but they also need to make sure the rates are fair so they aren't chasing away their own residents.
He says council will be conducting a study of its fees and charges this year and ice time will be included in that, so he's confident they will work together to figure out an appropriate solution.