Thunderbirds propose paying off debt with dumbbells

Soo Thunderbirds are proposing to pay off a $34,000 debt for ice time by donating to the City the fitness equipment they've accumulated at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

"We have invested $36,265 in creating this workout room for our hockey players. and occasionally the Soo Greyhounds, to use," says Sam Biasucci, president of the Junior A hockey club, in a recent letter to the City.

"We prefer to turn this room over to the City providing that a suitable user contract is worked out where the Thunderbirds and Greyhounds remain the first users as to choice of time slots and at no cost to us for five years, as well as writing off the account for ice time currently owed to the City by the Soo Thunderbirds," Biasucci says.

Public use possible

Nick Apostle, the City's commissioner of community services, likes the idea.

"There is a demand for a fitness room at this facility," Apostle says. "Through the establishment of rental rates for the use of this room, the City will enjoy a new ongoing revenue stream. The possibility of public use of the fitness room would also be explored," Apostle says.

Based on a conservative estimate of $10,000 a year revenue from the equipment, Apostle figures it will pay for itself within three to five years.

The Elliot Lake pool maintains a fitness room with less equipment than that, and has budgeted for $32,000 in revenue in 2002, Apostle says.

City councillors will consider the offer on Monday night.

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