Rate Increases Announced for Little Bear East Arena
By Ryan Schlehuber

Rates for the fitness center and conference room at Little Bear East Arena and Community Center were increased by the St. Ignace Recreation Advisory Committee at its meeting Wednesday, September 12, to cover increasing utilities costs.

The base rate for a month's membership at the fitness center has increased from $30 to $35, while the senior citizens rate went from $20 to $25.

Percentage discounts for tribal, city, and township residents were not changed. Members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians still receive a 50% discount, while city residents receive 20%. Moran Township and St. Ignace Township residents receive a 10% discount.

The daily rate of $5 to use the fitness center was not changed.

Renting the conference room for a full day during the week will now be $125, up from $110. A half day will be $75, up from $60.

Weekend rental of the conference room for a full day is $650, a $50 increase, and, for a half day, $375, a $25 increase from last year.

The city's chronic deficit in its community center budget, which, last year, amounted to a $11,727.54 loss, triggered the rate increase at Little Bear East, said City Manager Eric Dodson, although the city will still need to attract more events and groups to generate the revenue needed to operate the facility.

Heat and electricity costs each exceeded $30,000 last year, and the electricity rate is expected to rise in the near future, he said.

"This is a dangerous issue," said Don Gustafson, chairman of the board and a member of City Council, "because we don't want to raise rates to a point where no one uses the facility, but, at the same time, we need to cover our [utilities] costs."

Board member Jerry Fenlon, who represents Moran Township, pointed out that the chairs and the tables in the facility's conference room are getting beat up and may need to be replaced soon, owing to frequent use.

The fitness center should see a surge in membership for the fall and winter, a usual trend, said coordinator Erica Mattson of the Recreation Department, and wedding and organizational bookings are doing well for the conference center.

The committee will consider rate increases for six-month and yearly memberships at the fitness center, group rates, and kitchen use rates for the conference room at its October 10 meeting.

Rates for renting the ice arena were already raised $10 more per hour this summer. Prime time rental (weekends, or weekdays after 3 p.m.) is $140 per hour. Non-prime time (weekdays before 3 p.m.) is $100 per hour. Rental for organizations for 200 or more hours is $120 per hour.

Ice is scheduled to be put in place in the rink Wednesday, September 26.