Printed Jun 12, 2024 • Final up to date Jun 12, 2024 • 4 minute learn
Saugeen Shores councillors referred a Southampton Tennis Membership request for $175,000 – to pay half the fee to resurface eight of 15 courts- to workers for consideration throughout 2025 Enterprise Plan/funds talks this fall.
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The (tennis) ball is now within the City’s court docket after the Southampton Tennis Membership (STC) executives appealed to councillors for $175,000 to cowl half the fee to resurface eight of its 15 ageing tennis courts.
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Assembly as basic committee June 10, councillors referred the request for consideration throughout 2025 Enterprise Plan/funds talks this fall, with the understanding the venture isn’t within the already authorized 10-year plan.
Noting that STC has one of many largest tennis amenities in Ontario and has grown to 1,500 members because it started in 1956, board chair Dave Stevens appealled for assist pay for enhancements and to “build on the long-standing partnership” with the City.
Since 1956, the STC had operated and maintained courts for eight months of the yr, offering classes and membership actions, and they’re open to the general public when not in membership use.
Seven of the 15 courts are operated and maintained by STC volunteers on land leased from the City to “provide recreational programming to the local community,” Stevens mentioned, including any tennis associated prices are lined by memberships, not the City’s recreation funds.
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Whereas the STC is pleased with its heritage and historical past of operational independence “growing old sucks” Stevens mentioned, including that after 70 years, bigger capital spending is required to rebuild from the bottom up.
Stevens mentioned the courts – together with the 5 on Lake St. which can be the hub of the membership – are essential to all who stay, work and play in Saugeen Shores, year-round.
He mentioned the cracked, deteriorating situation of three courts and outdated amenities are security hazards as a consequence of their deteriorating circumstances, and that modernization is required to satisfy neighborhood expectations.
Stevens mentioned with a strict restore program, together with resurfacing each 10 years, this whole rebuild is a “generational expense” and the STC has a $250,00 reserve and faces “significant required capital expenditures” over the subsequent 5 years, most for rebuilding courts.
“We anticipate a net deficit in 2028 of $346,000 – this deficit includes the estimated $350,000 repair costs – construction repair costs – of the Lake St. properties,” Stevens mentioned, acknowledging that they’ve “lofty goals” that may require work.
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Turning to membership fundraising initiatives, Stevens launched STC board vice-chair Mike Smith, who mentioned they don’t need the City to pay the entire value however had been “respectfully requesting” a 50/50 partnership {split} with the City paying $175,000.
He detailed a $100,000 fundraising purpose with contributions from STC members and fundraising occasions, grants and company sponsorships, a goal of $20,000 for company donations, and Ontario Trillium Fund and Tennis Canada grants.
Smith mentioned with a devoted and dependable membership of people that love the STC, they’re “confident” they’ll increase $100,000.
“We kicked off our membership fundraising drive on May 19 – it runs through August 23, 2025. I’m happy to report at this early stage that we’ve raised $20,000, thus far,” he mentioned, including STC values and appears ahead to persevering with its 68-year relationship with the City.
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Vice deputy mayor Mike Myatt mentioned the “vibrant” membership presents good service to the neighborhood because the City doesn’t have any municipal courts.
In response to payment questions from Myatt, board member Wendy Buckley mentioned the household membership payment is $400; it’s $190 for a single, and so they have weekly, month-to-month and seasonal charges. She mentioned they pay college students to show classes and there’s a paid clubhouse workers of 10 teenagers.
With the 2 tennis courts at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin transformed to pickleball courts, Buckley mentioned they realistically are the one ones providing courts to Saugeen Shores members.
“Even though we suggest you have a membership for playing and for all the activities we do, there are often times when the courts are empty and people that don’t have memberships can go on (the courts),” Buckley mentioned, including they depart the nets up eight months a yr so anyone can play.
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Southampton Ward Coun. Cheryl Grace recounted her youngsters’s involvement within the “wonderful” STC program and had workers verify that free youth and grownup classes are included with the membership payment.
“That’s one of the things I’ve always noted about this club – one of its strengths – it’s very egalitarian…” Grace mentioned, including persons are drawn to Southampton to trip and to take a position due to the membership.
Southampton Ward Coun. John Divinski, who famous his spouse made life-long buddies on the membership, mentioned it could be a “shame” if the courts deteriorated past restore.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau mentioned council should set priorities and make “some sort of difficult decision,” throughout 2025 funds talks this fall.
That would embrace “either to find more revenue or to move something out so we can move this in,” he mentioned, urging STC to proceed fundraising efforts to search out as a lot cash as they’ll.
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