The Kemble Community Centre (Arena) in Georgian Bluffs. (file photo)
The Township of Georgian Bluffs is going to be offering a heavily discounted facility rental rate to help a new pickleball club get off the ground.
Georgian Bluffs council voted in favour of a recommendation at its committee of the whole meeting Wednesday to sign a three-year agreement with Georgian Bluffs Pickleball Club, which includes a reduced floor rental fee for the club to book up to 34 hours a week.
A report by Georgian Bluffs CAO Niall Lobley says the regular rate for use of the floor at the Kemble arena is $26/hour, and Kilsyth (Derby Community Centre) is $37/hour. The new Pickleball club would only have to pay $6.50 an hour for rentals under the agreement.
The club — which is independent from the township — would operate out of both the Kemble arena and Derby Community Centre. But Kemble would be its home base and signage would be put up to reflect the arena as “Home of Georgian Bluffs Pickleball Club.”
The agreement between the township and pickleball club still requires formal approval by council at its March 20 meeting.
While the motion passed, there was some discussion about the proposal being “inequitable” because the Georgian Bluffs Pickleball Club would be getting a rental rate more favourable than existing users of the facilities.
“I think we need to do what we can to make it work for pickleball,” says Georgian Bluffs Coun. Ryan Thompson. “But I think we can’t have an inequitable situation for the other user groups. I think we have to be fair to all.”
Thompson mentioned minor baseball, lacrosse, carpet bowlers and “other recreational groups” which use the facility and pay full rates.
Lobley told councillors this issue could be looked at and facilities rental rates potentially updated during an upcoming review of the township’s fees and bylaws.
Meanwhile, Georgian Bluffs mayor Sue Carleton didn’t like the idea of subsidizing adult recreation.
“I do support the use of the arena. I’m really happy to see that taking place,” Carleton explains. “My concern comes down to a lot of the people coming out to use this, in this case for Pickleball, (are) adults. When we’re talking children, I will support the reduced rate for them all the way through.”