CENTRE WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington council will be given the option to forgive a loan to the Elora Rocks or have the senior men's hockey club continue annual payments on it.
A report going forward at Monday’s Centre Wellington council meeting states the Elora Rocks Hockey Club owes $25,149.20, which the club will be asking for council to forgive, otherwise the club may suspend operations.
Currently playing in the Western Ontario Super Hockey League, the Elora Rocks Hockey Club has existed for over 100 years.
The report said the organization has had many successes over the years but also details some financial difficulties through recent years.
In 2010 the club and township had an agreement to pay ice time arrears over a nine year period which they followed through on until the club experienced difficulties in the 2015/2016 season where they suspended hockey operations.
The club entered into an updated agreement in 2017 and in 2020 there was no season due to COVID and no loan payment was made.
The Rocks came under new management in 2021 and entered into a new agreement to pay 10 per cent of the debt each year through annual payments of $3,143.65 at the end of each hockey season.
The club has made these payments for the past two seasons but the report noted it is difficult.
“The Elora Rocks Hockey Club management team have shared with staff they continue to struggle to pay ice rentals annually each season,” the report said.
Therefore, the club is asking council to forgive their past debt otherwise there is the possibility the club will have to suspend operations.
“Current practice is that if an individual or organization does not pay their fees/debt owed for rentals or programs, they are suspended from future use of township facilities until that debt is paid. It requires the authority of council to implement any other option,” the report said.
Centre Wellington council will consider this proposal at Monday’s meeting.
