The Township of Douro-Dummer addressed user fees and charges at the regular council meeting on Tuesday evening.
Stacy Grenier, the newly appointed treasurer, presented a report outlining the importance of service charges and fees as well as the proposed changes for the 2026 fiscal year.
Grenier explained that each year staff reviews the fees for each department to ensure that the fees are reflective of the costs associated with the service be it a hall or ice rental.
Grenier listed the purpose of the fees in her report and they are as follows:
• Cost Recovery: Ensures services remain sustainable by offsetting associated costs.
• Fairness and Competitiveness: Fees are evaluated against surrounding municipalities to maintain competitive and fair pricing.
• Inflation Adjustment: Annual reviews adapt fees to economic changes, ensuring continued high-quality service delivery.
After the review the decision was to increase the overall fees by three per cent and this increase is to be approved moving forward on an annual basis.
Grenier broke down the fees by department in the report and they are as follows:
Section 4: Fire
• Burning permit fee reduced as per Resolution #383-2025
• Administration fee increased to be more in line with actual costs
.Section 8: Municipal Office
• Hall rental increased three per cent as scheduled.
• Administration fees increased to be in line with current costs.
• Added Fee for reprint of Tax Bill, which is a standard practice.
• Copy Fees increased by two per cent.
Section 9: Planning/Development
• Rates increased by two per cent (CPI) as scheduled.
• Property Information Requests increased to be in line with current costs and other municipalities.
Section 10: Public Works
• Added Fee for 911 SignpostSection
11: Parks and Recreation
• Arena – Douro room rental fees were increased by three per cent as scheduled.
• Arena – Warsaw room rental fees were increased by three per cent as scheduled
• Park rental fees were increased by three per cent as scheduled.
Section 12: Surcharge for Liability Insurance Coverage
• For non-commercial entities and events
• Consolidated into a single rate tier for Sports Events or Activities
• Aligned rates with insurance coverage to ensure cost recovery.
Local ratepayer Adrian Van Denbroek spoke to this agenda item in the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.
Van Denbroek wanted to know why the burn permit fee was being decreased and asked why those revenues were not being directed towards the interest that will be accrued on the joint public works and fire building.
Van Denbroek was also concerned that the fees that are being increased go against the township’s four pillars of sustainable development.
He commented that an increase in fees could deter people from renting township facilities and in turn it could cause the loss of the Warsaw arena.
Van Denbroek asked that council confirm the future of the Warsaw arena.
Councillor Ray Johnston was concerned with the annual increase of three per cent. He said when he was involved with the arenas they would dissect the budgets each year and increase the fees as needed. He said that his main concern is that the township now has a cut and dried three per cent per anum increase.
Johnston also questioned the addition of insurance to arena rentals. He was concerned that adding insurance to the ice times could cause the rates to increase to the point where people rent in other municipalities.
Johnston said “The only way we can survive is to keep our arenas booked.
CAO Todd Davis told Johnston that you can’t rent facilities without insurance and this policy has been in place for many years.
Previously there were different tiers of insurance depending on liabilities, but the new system has just one tier for insurance which is quite inexpensive when purchased through the township.
It was also noted that the insurance fee is not needed if the renter has their own insurance. This is the case with organizations such as minor hockey.
Deputy mayor Harold Nelson moved that they approve the recommendation and the motion passed.
