Seniors will pay more rec fees

Recreation fees will be going up, along with city utility fees.

While not many fees have changed for Green River residents, there were some small consensus decisions made. During the presentation for parks and recreation, council members were in favor of senior citizens 80 years old and up using the Green River recreation center to get in for free.

Recreation Supervisor Katie Blood said they may not be able to give the service for free and may have to charge a fee. In that case, 80+ seniors could be charged $1 for an annual pass.

A consensus was made by the council to raise the recreation center fee for younger seniors 60 years old and up though, from $10 a month to $15.

“A lot of seniors I’ve spoken with would rather have a raise in price than a cut in programs,” Blood said.

She is also in favor of a tiered system suggested by the parks and recreation advisory board, which would have a gradual discount with age.

An adult, age 19 to 59, monthly fee for the center is $40 a month. The tiered suggestion would give seniors age 60-64 about a 10 percent discount, age 65 and older would receive a 50 percent discount, and 80 up would be charged $1 if not free.

“A tiered system is worth looking into,” she said. “It would help with that gap area.”

She is in favor of the tiered system based off feedback she’s received from patrons, she said. A yearly discounted fee for recreation center patrons starting this fiscal year will be the annual family pass. The fee will be lowered from $900 a year for the whole family to $700; a $50 difference from the Rock Springs recreation center’s yearly family pass at $650.

Brad Raney, director of parks and recreation, said as of now, a handful of families purchase the annual family pass regularly.

As far as utilities, Green River residents will see about a 5 percent raise overall this fiscal year. The garbage fee will be raised 50 cents, sewer will be raised $2 per month and the water rate will increase about $2-3 per month for the typical resident based on usage.

“Water isn’t as easy, because it is consumption based,” Public Works Director Mark Westenskow said.