Neepawa's Yellowhead Centre sets fees and rates for 2015-2016

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Neepawa's Yellowhead Centre sets fees and rates for 2015-2016

Details: Published on Friday, August 28, 2015

Submitted Article

The Neepawa Banner

The Yellowhead Centre (YHC) board of directors met last week and set the rates for membership fees and ice rentals. Hall rates are still under review.

For the 2015-16 year, each family that uses the YHC will be charged a $65.00 fee, less the amount of their municipality’s contribution to the YHC. The membership fee is a once per year fee on a per family basis. The municipal contributions confirmed so far this year include $70,000 from the Town of Neepawa, which works out to $45.81 per household based on 1,528 households. That means the net membership fee for Town of Neepawa residents will be $20 per year.

The Rural Municipality of Rosedale has made a 2015 contribution of $2,500 which works out to $4.14 per household based on 604 households. That means the net membership fee for R.M. of Rosedale residents will be $60.

Although the R.M. of Langford has been a contributor in the past, usually $5,000 per year, no contribution has been received so far this year from the newly created R.M. of North-Cypress-Langford. If a contribution comes forward, the family membership fees will be adjusted. The same applies to any other municipality, if they make a contribution to the YHC, the fees will be adjusted. Currently, the membership fee will be $65 per family for residents of all municipalities other than Rosedale and the Town of Neepawa.

The ice rental fees have increased 5 per cent this year. There has not been an increase in ice rental fees for four years, so with annual increases in hydro, repairs and maintenance as well as snow clearing costs, the adjustment was necessary to balance the budget.

Hourly rates for community groups using arena ice will be $105 per hour. Commercial and out of area groups not paying membership fees will be charged $131.25 per hour. The Neepawa Figure Skating Club will be charged $78.75 per hour, as the board felt that input cost are lower for their ice time slots due to less ice cleaning and less janitorial work required around their hours of usage.

Hall rental rates will be set at a later date. Concession food and beverage prices will increase for the 2015-16 season as well.

The Yellowhead Centre is a full-size hockey arena and a 10,000 plus square foot community hall. Built in 1971 from some of the buildings left to the Town of Neepawa by the former salt plant, the YHC has been owned since its inception by the Neepawa Centennial Project Committee Inc. The Yellowhead Centre is owned by a private community-based corporation and not by the Town of Neepawa or the surrounding municipalities. Over the past number of years, the YHC has reduced its debt load to zero and has a small reserve fund for emergency repairs. The hall is 71 years old and the arena and waiting room area are 44 years old, so major breakdowns are inevitable, thus the need for a reserve fund. The board and management apply for as many grants as possible for upgrades and operating expenses.

For more information, contact Board President Darian Major (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), Past President Ken Waddell (204-476-6214) or YHC Manager Ann Kuharski, YHC Manager (204-476-5880)