Rental rates are going up for both the Battleford Arena and the Alex Dillabough Centre.
Battleford town council agreed to an approximately five per cent increase to rates across the board at Monday's meeting. The rate increase comes into effect April 1.
The new rates apply to both ice and non-ice rental at the arena and for the hall and meeting rooms at the Alex Dillabough Centre. Highlights include increases to $606 for senior hockey, $788 for commercial use of the arena with the ice out, $1,365 for non-local commercial (ie. the circus) at the arena, and $837 at the Alex Dillabough for public dances on Fridays and Saturdays. Rates are also going up for such things as weddings, conferences and other items.
The previous rates had been set in October 2012. Town parks and recreation superintendant Randy Redding told council Monday the increase is to cover the operational costs of the two facilities.
Redding noted the new rates match up with the other rates for minor hockey that the City of North Battleford is charging.
The arena is heavily utilized for hockey during the winter months, with primary hockey tenants being the Battleford Beaver Blues senior hockey team and the Battlefords Sharks AAA midget female hockey team.
On a related topic Councillor David George, who chaired Monday's meeting in place of Mayor Derek Mahon, acknowledged the Beaver Blues and congratulated them on the season they had completed in the SPHL.
The defending champion Blues were eliminated a week ago in the league semifinals by the Cut Knife Colts.
The Blues had been a hot ticket all season long, and drew almost a sell out to their home playoff game against the Colts at Battleford Arena.
George acknowledged the good crowds the Blues had at the Arena.
"It's just a great thing to see the rink filled up like it used to be back many, many years ago," said George.
