The Strathcona Regional District is being billed by the Storm junior hockey team for advertising that regional district staff say is not in the budget.
The $3,675 charge is for a regional district logo place at centre ice at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena. The Storm say the charge is consistent with other sponsorship rates for that spot.
Tom Yates, corporate services manager for the regional district, informed the Strathcona Gardens Commission of the charge in Sept. 6 report.
“The work in question was not included in the 2013-2017 financial plan and, to our knowledge, was not approved by staff prior to the expense being incurred,” he wrote.
The Storm, in a letter to the the commission, said the regional district indicated it wanted to show its support for the Storm through advertising.
“There was an expressed desire to have some sort of presence on the ice representing the SRD and going with a logo was the best balance.”
At a Gardens meeting Sept. 11, commissioners voted to have regional district staff meet with the Storm regarding the invoice and then have staff come back with a report on recommendations for dealing with the charge.
The Storm was recently given specific advertising and signage rights as part of a new agreement between the hockey club and the regional district, which was signed off on earlier this month.
The agreement includes use of office space, shared use of the fitness studio, Pinecrest room, Dogwood room, VIP North room and common areas and provides for up to 140 games and practices per season.
In exchange, the Storm pay $2,750 per month.
