City says they are willing to work with groups over changes to facility usage.

Bohnet explained the increased rates are too high for their non-profit youth group to afford.

“We only turn on three lights in the school; the gym, bathrooms and hallway,” she said. “Talking about how they need this money because of the heat and utilities doesn’t make sense to me.”

Mayor Ted Clugston said City Council was aware of the fee increases to the agreement. He explained the fees haven’t changed since 1999.

“These fees are just to cover the costs of maintenance,” he said. “When you use a gym over time it gets deteriorated and there are costs going forward.”

Bohnet also raised concern over releasing their members private information. The revised agreement also requires users to provide the city with a membership list.

Clugston said the goal of obtaining user groups information is to ensure 75 percent of the users are citizens of Medicine Hat, as the facilities were built with taxpayer money. He explained the city is willing to work with community groups to maintain privacy.

“We will work with each group on a case by case basis,” he said. “One of the large concerns is FOIP, with private information. If they have a clause in their policies that they cannot hand over names of those under the age of 18.”

The city said this is a recommended fee schedule and it could be amended from time to time by the joint use committee.

by Brittney Matejka

City says they are willing to work with groups over changes to facility usage.

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