North Huron recreation fees to rise, though questions remain unanswered
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
On Monday, North Huron Council voted on a bylaw regarding the township’s 2024 fees and charges. Some of the bylaw’s proposed fees increases exceeded 100 per cent, particularly in the Recreation Department. The unusually steep increase caught North Huron residents by surprise when it was introduced on Nov. 6, creating a flurry of confusion and controversy.
On Monday, Wingham’s Town Hall Theatre was full of concerned citizens looking for clarification on the issue and a chance to speak up in defence of recreation, exhibiting varying degrees of civility.
Reeve Paul Heffer began the public comment portion of the meeting by requesting that people be respectful in their comments. He also reassured the public that the Wescast Community Complex was not closing, and warned against believing any of the misinformation swirling around the proposed bylaw.
There were many public comments, some of which raised valid concerns about the issue. There were requests for greater transparency with citizens, as well as confusion over the lack of information provided on the increases, such as the absence of a basic variance analysis that showed the difference in fees from year-to-year. Some speakers worried that the increases would have a negative effect on public health, and advocated for continued affordable facility access for all of North Huron. Childhood obesity was a focus for some, as was the quality of life for community elders and disabled residents.
A petition, signed by citizens from across the community, was presented to council, asking them to reconsider the fee increases. Letters were also sent in from various organizations, including one from the Wingham BIA outlining specific concerns, stating, “We feel that these increases, if approved, will result in a severe decrease in memberships and therefore usage of the complex which will in turn have a negative effect on the business community. The complex programs, including gym, pool and arena, draw people in from several other local communities and many of these facility users go on to do business with local retailers.”
The Wingham Minor Hockey Association also weighed in on what the increases might mean for local hockey and the overall future of Wingham, writing that, “It is the amenities within a community that attract new people to move and create well balanced lives. Without these the community will cease to thrive and grow. If we make the amenities not accessible due to the cost being prohibitive, how will we attract new people to our community and tax base?… We worry for the mental health of our young people when the community they are growing up in no longer provides affordable outlets for their energy, well-being and mental health. We are requesting that you please reconsider this direction.”
All these reasonable concerns were received by council for consideration, despite repeated efforts by a small contingent of citizens to disrupt the proceedings with shouts, boos and insults. This behaviour continued beyond the evening’s public comment portion. People shouted insults throughout the meeting, interrupting councillors and adding unnecessary confusion to an already complex issue. This confrontational attitude from some members of the public has become a worrisome trend in more than one Huron County municipality over the last few years, and seems to be escalating.
In recent years, North Huron has cited its robust recreation options as one of the key attractions that will bring in new residents. Both council and the community have a history of rallying around its recreational facilities. This passion was displayed earlier this year, when council was considering closing the Blyth and District Community Centre, an idea that was scrapped after much public outcry. A proposal for massive cuts to the 2023 recreation budget was also met with an outcry from the public.
Over the years, North Huron has received a number of sizable grants in support of its recreation department, including Wingham’s Wescast Community Complex. The construction of the complex itself was partially funded through community donations. Being the little town with the outsized athletic centre is a point of pride for Wingham, drawing in thousands of visitors and enticing newcomers to choose North Huron over other townships. This is a critical time in the evolution of Wingham - council is depending on housing developments and an influx of new citizens to ensure a healthy economic future and lower tax rates. Attracting newcomers to upcoming developments like Hutton Heights is an essential part of council’s new strategic plan.
The 10-year North Huron Recreation and Culture Master Plan is a comprehensive, council-driven initiative designed to guide the future of recreation in the municipality. They consulted 484 households (representing over 1,100 people), 27 community stakeholder organizations, staff and council in order to assess the wants and needs of North Huron residents. The Master Plan was completed in 2021, and identifies North Huron’s arenas and community centres as one of the keys to a stable, healthy future. It specifically warns against sudden large user fee increases, as they will deter membership and restrict access to low-income residents, creating an overall decrease in revenue. It suggests a number of ideas intended to reduce costs as an alternative to fee hikes. It also cites lower rates for seniors and students as essential elements of the department and the community.
North Huron approved a new Strategic Plan in November, which states that one of their goals is implementing the Master Plan. This bylaw proposal seems to ignore the advice of these two plans, and citizens want to know why. The document provided to council and the community is scant on details, and the lack of information has created space for the spreading of misinformation, and spawned myriad questions.
Heffer invited Director of Finance Chris Townes, who drafted the bylaw, to step forward and address these concerns. Townes stated that “All questions and concerns have been identified, they have been addressed through several e-mails and several conversations to council and the Reeve. There have been in-person visits, phone conversations, and several e-mails. At this time I don’t have anything further to add.”
Members of council were still looking for answers before voting. Councillor Chris Palmer asked for clarification on how the fee increases were decided on, asking “Where did the fees come from? Usually we know.”
Councillor Mitch Wright made comparisons between the proposed ice time rates to the current rates in towns like Lucknow, and was not able to see where the proposed fee increases had come from. “It seems like we’re already higher, so if I could just get some clarity on where that proposed increase came from.” Townes responded to these queries, saying that, “As noted in a number of the e-mails, the other comparator municipalities were considered in the formulation.”
Palmer also questioned the proposal to remove senior and youth discounts from the community complex fees. “What was the thinking here? Those groups don’t always have disposable income… for heaven’s sake - it’s seniors and students!”
Townes replied that those discounted rates had been removed on the advice of Recreation Department staff, saying, “The theory behind that is that it doesn’t cost an adult or senior, or anything different, to use a program or a service.”
Councillor Ric McBurney inquired as to whether the fee increases could be done over a number of years, rather than all at once, saying, “It sounds like we’re in too big of a hurry, not knowing what’s going on enough to get the right decision made - maybe we should be deferring this.” McBurney’s comments echoed those made by Palmer and Wright during budget deliberations earlier this year - both councillors felt more research was needed before approving the budget, but their motion to defer failed.
Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer motioned that the bylaw be passed as-is, but Wright proposed an amendment that would replace the community complex’s current complete recreation pass with a more affordable basic package that would offer full facility use without unlimited access to specialty programs. The amendment also reinstated student, spousal and seniors rates, that included a 25 per cent increase over the 2023 rates.
Heffer stepped out of his role as Reeve to propose an amendment of his own, in which some fee increases would be spread between two years - 70 per cent in 2024, and 30 per cent in 2025.
Council voted to add both amendments to the bylaw, which was then passed 4-2, with Palmer and Councillor Anita van Hittersum voting against.