Council for the Township of North Huron approved the proposed fee changes for next year, which will be adopted by by-law at a meeting later this month.
The most notable change for residents was the return of an affordable membership package to the Wescast Community Center.
Kelly Steiss, Director of Recreation, told council it was something people wanted.
"One of the first new things is the re-introduction of the complete membership... this was something that we heard loud and clear through the surveys, it was a popular membership option so we wanted to bring that back," she said.
The complete membership package allows access to general swims, Aquafit, public skating, the fitness centre, and the multi-purpose gym for one price.
A monthly complete package for students and seniors will cost $101.25, and for all other individuals it will be $115.36. The yearly membership is $904 for students and seniors and $1,130 for individuals.
Steiss said they would also introduce some new options.
"We are proposing to offer some new rates for students and seniors in the fitness centre," she said. "We are finding we have quite a few students that like to use the facilities and trying to gather more people and create a membership option that would attract more of those individuals in."
Steiss told council earlier this fall that a change in rec fees implemented in 2024 resulted in a 55 per cent drop in membership revenues.
While most recreation rates increased two per cent to keep up with costs of living, after a delegation to council in October, the ice rates for Wingham Minor Hockey Association will remain the same.
Steiss explained how that will work.
"What's unique about the Township of North Huron is that we offer a blocked rate to our youth groups... to purchase a specific amount of ice at one time and it gives them a lower price," she said. "So that's $156.11 before taxes, so their would be a two per cent increase to everything except for the Youth Prime Blocked Rate, in light of the presentation to council."
The approved fees and charges will be passed as a by-law at the November 17 meeting.
