A "rock"-y first year of operations for Twin Rivers Curling Club has resulted in the City of North Battleford having to extend a helping hand to them.
Council approved a number of measures to financially assist the struggling curling club in operating the new Northland Power Curling Centre at an Oct. 15 council meeting. The resolution passed includes the following:
defer payment of annual lease charges of $17,500.00, for both 2014 and 2015, (totalling $35,000);
add the deferred lease payment ($35,000) into the total amount of $250,000 committed by the Twin Rivers Curling Club, along with interest costs incurred by the City for financing the payments, based on a rate of borrowing of 2.71 per cent, to derive a newly calculated amount to be payable over a 10-year period;
forego payment of the percentage profit from the bar and restaurant for the next two-year period;
waive rental fees for tables/chairs and greenhouse plants, but require the curling club to be responsible to replace any damaged units as well as for the pickup and delivery of any tables and chairs; and a new lease to be in effect for January 1, 2016.
No financial particulars were provided at the meeting, as statements for the club were yet to be completed. But the City was made aware of the issues during discussions between them and Twin Rivers Curling Club.
At Tuesday's meeting, Councillor Ryan Bater noted the club had a "rough year" and that the "rebound plan" centred on the restaurant and lounge becoming profitable. The hope was to capture business from NationsWEST Field House, which was not open last winter.
Bater, who recorded the lone no vote to the resolution at the meeting, made it clear he did not like the idea of giving a break to an organization to run a restaurant and lounge.
"My concern is one of fairness. What if one of those restaurants and lounges had a bad year? Would we allow them not to pay their taxes for two years? Would we give them the same kind of break?" said Bater.
Bater did express his desire to see Twin Rivers Curling Club succeed, voicing support for fundraising efforts, but also expressed concern about what would happen if the club were not able to make it work.
"What happens if next summer the club comes back and says 'alright we can't make this facility work, we're out.' What happens to the deferred $17,500, and for that matter the $250,000," Bater asked.
"I guess we'd be in the curling business," responded Hamilton, referring to the grim prospect that the City itself would have to take over operations of the curling centre from Twin Rivers Curling Club.
For other councillors, the idea that the City would have to take over and spend taxpayers' money subsidizing the curling centre's operations was a decisive factor in favour of helping the Twin Rivers Club out this time.
"This is a pretty good arrangement for the taxpayers," said Councillor Greg Lightfoot of the resolution, pointing out a City-run building might need subsidies of upwards of $300,000.
"I think right now this a good solution for a situation that I hope Twin Rivers can turn around and make it work in their favour, and the taxpayers' favour."
