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LETTER: Town must remember volunteers when considering rec centre fee hikes

Former CAO says a committee of volunteers that crossed municipal lines raised $1.5 million toward the centre's capital costs
2022-01-26 rink1
One of the rinks at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre.

MidlandToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). This letter is in response to higher user fees at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre, which was also addressed in a recent column.

An open letter to Midland Council and to the editor,

I recently read with some dismay the proposed extraordinary hikes in rates for the Sports and Recreation Centre.

As CAO and coordinator of the project, I remember well the efforts put forth by the community in assisting to bring the project to fruition.

A committee made up of volunteers that crossed municipal lines raised $1.5 million toward the capital costs of the centre.

An army of volunteers run the programs for the many user groups.

It is a magnificent facility, the heart of the community that reflects the health and vitality of the town, every bit as important as hard services.

With all the new building presently in Midland, revenues from new assessments will be lucrative. As well, I believe the debenture, which is significant, ends in two years.

With respect council, please reconsider the proposed rate increase. Keep the doors open to the community and remember the volunteers running the many programs.

Fred Flood

Midland