Alex Kurial
Local Journalism Initiative

St. Clair residents will be looking at increased fees at the pool, fitness center and golf course next year as the township attempts to recoup losses from COVID-19 closures.
One of the biggest jumps will come through the year-long aqua fitness membership. The existing annual price of $225 will go up 122 per cent to $500.
The fitness center is where most of the big leaps will take place though. A one-year single membership goes from $275 to $617.50 – up 125 per cent – with the equivalent senior’s price going to $522.50 from this year’s $255 or an extra 105 per cent.
A one-year membership for couples goes from $450 to $731.25 which is up 63 per cent and a one-year family from $600 to $926.25 – up 54 per cent.
Six-month passes will be getting the same treatment: a single pass goes from $200 to $325 – up 63 per cent, a senior from $175 to $275 a 57 per cent increase, a couple from $255 to $487.50 – up 91 per cent, and a family pass from $450 to $682.50 – up 52 per cent.
The golf course won’t be escaping the rate hikes either. The biggest percentage increase will be for a nine-hole cart, jumping 77 per cent from $9.04 to $20. An 18-hole cart goes from $18.08 to $30, up 47 per cent.
Most other golf services will go up by 10 per cent. The biggest dollar increase will be on the family membership with two adults and up to three children, which rises from $2,825 to $3,107.50 that’s up 10 per cent.
Mayor Steve Arnold says he expects the biggest push back to the new rates will be from golfers.
“I did have some feedback that they were disappointed that we put the price up for golfing as much as we did,” Arnold says.
But he added that without mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, these prices aren’t likely to come down if people want the course to operate, since the increased cleaning fees have to be factored in.
The new fitness center and pool prices will begin on Apr. 1, 2021, while the new golf course fees will start on New Year’s Day.