ROCK SPRINGS – Over the next several months, the Rock Springs Parks and Recreation Board will be reviewing all recreation fees. On Thursday, the board started the process.

In 1999, the members of the Parks and Recreation Board passed a policy that required future boards to analyze recreation fees every two years and make changes based on cost of living changes. The board was given information on cost of living changes over the past several years. Park and Recreation Director Dave Lansang explained to the board the cost of living has increased just over 12 percent statewide and around 10 percent in southwest Wyoming over the past four years.

Lansang also informed the board there were several fee increases two years ago while others were left alone. As the board went through each fee separately, Lansang would tell the board if they were changed two years ago or if they were left as is.

The board will be going through the fees over the next few months line by line and make tentative changes. It was stressed several times that proposed changes are tentative and no action was taken on them at this time. After going through all fees, the board will go back through them making any final changes. After all the changes are agreed on by the board, they will then send them to the Rock Springs City Council who will ultimately decide if the changes are necessary.

On Thursday, the board went through memberships for indoor recreation and fees at the Rock Springs Civic Center. For daily fees, youth fees would go from $3 to $3.25, adults from $5.50 to $6, seniors from $1.50 to $2, Pioneer ages 75-79 from 75 cents to $1 and Pioneer ages 80 and up would remain free.

Under monthly membership fees, youth would go from $20 to $22, single adult from $44 to $45, couples from $55 to $60, family from $70 to $75, senior single from $12 to $13, senior family from $17 to $20, Pioneer ages 75-79 from $8 to $10 and Pioneer ages 80 and up would remain free.

Under monthly fees for low income single and low income family, the board felt it was best to leave them where they currently are. Low income single is $12 while family is $17.

The board then looked at six-month memberships. Youth fees would go from $115 to $120, single adult from $210 to $220, couple would remain at $300, family from $350 to $370, senior single from $55 to $60, senior family from $90 to $100, Pioneer ages 75-79 from $27.50 to $30, Pioneer family ages 75 to 79 from $45 to $50 and Pioneer ages 80 and up remain free.

Under annual memberships, youth would go from $210 to $220, single adult from $380 to $400, couple from $500 to $525, family from $630 to $650, senior single from $100 to $110, senior family from $165 to $180, Pioneer single ages 75-79 from $50 to $55, Pioneer family ages 75-79 from $87.50 to $90 and Pioneer ages 80 and up would remain fee.

The board also discussed a change to special needs groups. Lansang said historically special needs group such as Able Hands, Life Skills, NOWCAP and other similar groups have been purchasing an annual family membership. Lansang said they have created a new annual membership category for the special needs group. The fee which has been tentatively set for the groups at $700 annually.

School groups from Sweetwater County School District No. 1 and Western Wyoming Community College were also looked at. If it is part of the curriculum in would remain free, if not the fee would change fro $30 to $35. For youth boy’s basketball groups the fee would go from $120 to $135.

The board then looked at Civic Center fees. Under party fees birthday parties would go from $50 to $55, party with climbing wall from $75 to $85 and party with climbing wall and pool from $95 to $105.

Other fee changes at the Civic Center include climbing wall harness from $1.25 to $1.50, climbing wall shoes from $1.25 to $1.50, gym rental from $600 to $660 with an additional day going from $100 to $110, gym cleaning deposit from $600 to $660, gym security deposit from $600 to $660, family day Sunday only resident from $10 to $11, family day Sunday only non-resident from $12 to $14 and hourly meeting room rental from $12 an hour to $14 an hour. Meeting room rental for non-profit group meetings are free.

The final category looked at was Civic Center locker rentals. A full locker six month rental would go from $60 to $65, full locker one year from $100 to $110, half locker six month from $25 to $28 and half locker one year from $35 to $40.

The board will continue going through the fees at next month’s meeting. Again it was stressed these changes are tentative and nothing was voted on Thursday night. Once all the fees are reviewed, the board will send their recommendations to council who will ultimately decide.