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Lakeshore Advance, 2011-05-11, Page 7w.mewnw�,roi .�i. ,.r�7 Thedford Dirty Dogs get full support from Lambton Sh.wores Lynda Hillman -Replay Lakeshore Advance Lambton Shores council have agreed to a business . \Jan with 'Thedford Dirty wigs hockey wain. This team nas been operating out of the former Medford- Bosanquet arena facility since 2005 and has slowly but surely been able to build a successful teats in what is considered to be a very small and chal- lenging market. Attendance and support for the team has grown over the years but the challenges of operating a competitive team at this level retrain. While attendance has grown by some 43% since its inception operating costs have continued to put a strain on the team especially in the 2010-11 season, when their home base, underwent its major renovation. In a report to council, they learned that apart from its internal financial issues, there is no doubt the Dirty Dogs and their hockey gashes have become a key compo- nent of the Legacy Centre's viability but also that of the greater community. The operation of the team and the visiting teases and fans it attracts have a spin off bene- fit to the local business com- munity that should be recog- nized, while modest, this infusion of $2,500 to $3,000.00 a year is welcomed by the local business com- munity and it is hoped that Spring is CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 5 These Native trees, shrubs and plants are an integral part our ecosystem and pro- vide homes, food and habitat for our extensive variety of fauna. Our Native Service - berry, with its showy white spring flowers, and our Native Dogwoods, Pagoda and Flowering, provide much for the birds and beasts in addition to having great fall c▪ ‘olour. Our native evergreens 'tch as the Red Cedar and the White Pine provide shel- ter and nesting cover for many birds and small mam- mals. Deer browse the foliage of both species and a surpris- ing amount of songbirds and mammals eat the berries of the Red Cedar. In closing I would like to address a frequented with the continued success of the team that spin off will continue to grow. The teats and its activities also contribute to the "qual- ity of life" in the local com- munity, as a draw that brings local residents together to share in the support of "Their Team". The team and its sponsors is largely trade up of local residents from within Lambton Shores Unable to host gashes at its own home base and the added costs and logistical issues associated with find- ing ice time in the area for the 2010-11 season have brought the team to the verge of collapse. Council will recall that earlier this year the team appeared as a delegation before Council to plead its case and to seek some form of restitution for the losses it incurred in the 2010-11 season. Council agreed to consider the issue and see if there was some way in which the losses could be addressed. Cost Impacts The most immediate con- cern for the team is the cost incurred as a result of the renovation of the 'Thed- ford Arena facility. iIad the facility been ready for the teats as promised by the Municipality, the team would have been expected to purchase a significant amount of ice titne. As a result of the renovations the in the air complaint as of late. Many lawns have been ransacked by the makings of tunnels, burrows and dirt mounds by our neighborhood moles. Although they make a mess of precious 'grasslands," moles really pose no threat and in fact eat many grubs and insects that could also damage lawns. To graciously send these prolific diggers on there way one could try a mixture of human hair and cotton balls, garlic cloves or thorny branches placed in there tunnels or spreading a mixture of hot sauce, chili powder, dishsoap and water over there runways. Poison, of course, is another option, however that's a choice l shall leave up to you. Until next titne, Grow what you love, Love what you grow, the rest will follow. team had to seek that same amount of ice time at other facilities, who charge more for ice time. That is the ice time cost differential that the teats is out of pocket for 2010-11. This is in addition to an outstanding ice rental bill from the 2009-10 season of $6,383.90. In addition, the 'Thedford Arena also serves as the "Home Ice" for the Dirty Dogs and provides the source of most of its reve- nues from its ticket sales ($12,000.00 to 13,500.00) and sponsorships ($5,000.00) other revenue sources including bar sales. These losses in total amount to approximately $15,000.00. '1'he Teats stood a good chance of making this revenue again in 2010-11 had they not been impacted by the arena renovations. These lost revenues should be addressed in what- ever compensation package is developed for those user groups.'Ihe issue of the com- pensation will be the subject of a separate report and not addressed here, other than to say until such time as the issue is resolved some con- sideration should be given to the Dirty Dogs. "As Council can see, the impact of not being able to use the 'Thedford Arena as originally intended has had significant impacts on this team and its financial viabil- ity. In order to address these impacts, it is suggested that the Municipality consider covering the cost of the ice rental fees the team has been forced to pay to other venues totalling $6,228.37, so those tnunicipalities who rented ice are reimbursed for those costs," says CAO John Byrne. These costs are as follows: Municipality of South Huron — Exeter Arena 44,701.80 North Middlesex — Parkhill Arena - $909.13 Strathroy-Caradoc — Gemini Centre - $ 230.00 Warwick — Watford Arena - $ 387.44 Byrne continues by stating while it is proposed that these other municipalities be reimbursed for these ice rentals, this is only an interim measure intended to "localize" the issue so that other municipalities are not out of pocket for our internal issue. I am suggesting that if an arrangement is made to compensate other user groups for the inconvenience caused by the renovations, that whatever solution that may be, also apply to the Dirty Dogs, it may take a month or more to resolve the issue for all groups and organizations. As for the repayment of these costs it is suggested that this be treated as a "Deferred Debt" of the Thedford Dirty Dogs, to be Grand Bend Community Foundation 'Building a Better Community' Tenth Anniversary Celebration gil Guest Speaker Dr. John Howard, Chair of Canadian Physicians for the Environment Challenging many of our beliefs about health care, Dr Howard will present a new model for health care - an ecosystem health care model in which the health of the physical, social, and economic environments are key components Other Highlights: • AQuefest 2011 • Community Leaders of the Decade • 10 years of the Grand Bend Community Foundation • Celebrate our donors. partners and volunteers Saturday, May 14, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. fLowwunity firvom - cram( BlndCommunity 'Oda Cintrre 69 Main St. E. grand Bend l r•hl rehechments and an opportunity to chat with member of our wonderful community 10 follow )Mn us to Md out how we are building a heanM. vital Grand Bond community Briny a friend - all are welconw Please send regrets only to Frieda Dobson Mone sts.23e- 190 or e-mail at abcfehay.net woa►1aolbc mi..nmwn )fuuola;na .a repaid over time, once the club gets back on its feet" As for the outstanding ice rental billing for the 2009-10 season of $6,383.90 it is sug- gested that this be added to the "Deferred Debt" of the team, together the total debt would amount to $12,612.27. I would stress again that this financial obli- gation of the team be held, interest free, and be paid down over time as the team can afford. The status of this outstanding amount would be reviewed annually to ensure plans are in place for its retirement. Business Plan Recognizing that the oper- ation of a Senior AA ITockey Club is a complex and chal- lenging venture, especially in a small market, the Dirty Dogs have recognized the need to restructure their organization and adopt a more "businesslike" approach to running the team, to this end Mr. Bill Bal- lard a local Lambton Shores resident and retired busi- nessman has agreed to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of the team. Mr. Ballard met with Mayor Weber, and Councillors Bon- esteel and Russell along with staff to discuss the finances of the club, their current dilemma and a strategy for the future viability of the club. While the details of this are still under discussion, it is anticipated that a more viable business plan for the club will be established for the upcoming 2011-12 sea- son. 1 should further state that any financial arrange- ments regarding the Dirty Dogs, be conditional upon Mr. Ballard's continued role as Chief Executive Officer of the teams "off -ice" business. Council reaction Council was receptive to the plan with Bonesteel com- mending Byrne for the excel- lent work he did to put the plan together. Bonesteel offered to be the council lia- son for this group. Council agreed this team was viable and an asset to the new Leg- acy Centre. Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Davis Dagg asked for a timeline on this group's ability to pay the dollars back. Councilor Martin Underwood said he was uncomfortable with that. In the end council decided they would take Bonesteel up on his offer and have this group report back on their progress each year. inline Iakeshoreadvance.com EV1%ATE14 •••11448r• W 20011 Notice to Water Customers 2011 FLUSHING PROGRAM The Ontario Clean Water Agency ((K'WA) will be slushing watermains for the Municipality of Bluewater on the following dates: Zurich Baytiled/Lakeshore Hensall May 10 - 12 May 10-19 May 17 - 19 You may experience discoloured water coining from your tap. If this happens, we suggest you try the following: • remove the tap aerators off your taps and flush all the house lines until the water runs clear. • flush out your hot water tanks. This is to remove the accumulated iron that precipitates out in the tank; this iron may also decrease the efficiency of your water tank. You may experience lower than normal pressure as a result of the flushing activities. We recommend that you avoid doing laundry on these days to avoid the risk of possible stains. Municipality of Bluewater 519-236-4351 (K'WA 519-271-9071 519-312-1344