Duane Hicks
A new rink condenser for the ’52 Canadians Arena will be a high-priority capital item in the 2013 budget because the current one is on its last legs.
A report from Community Services manager Jason Kabel noted that shortly before the Christmas break, Graham Matheson noticed ammonia was being “abnormally consumed” by the condenser, which was first installed in 1974.
Upon inspection, it was determined the condenser was leaking ammonia outside the arena, near Second Street East.
Cimco Refrigeration was called in and workers spent three days trying to fix the leak.
While they were able to stop it for the most part, they could not completely seal or weld all of the areas they needed to due to rust corrosion under the unit, noted Kabel.
The repairmen told Kabel the reasonable solution was to “limp through the remainder of the season” until late March, leaving the condenser to leak small amounts of ammonia.
“This, by all estimations, is relatively innocuous,” Kabel reported.
To get a new condenser would take eight weeks. If one was ordered now, it would arrive at the end of the required ice season, he added.
The Community Services executive committee, with input from Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig, reviewed the issue and recommended to council that the replacement of the ’52 Canadians Arena condenser receive top priority consideration during the 2013 budget process.
Also at last night meeting, council shared memories of the late Coun. Sharon Tibbs, as did several town staff.
All agreed she was a knowledgeable and dedicated member of council.
Members of Coun. Tibbs’ immediate family were in attendance.
In other items from last night’s meeting, council:
•approved Bob Armit, Aaron Beckett, and Krista Ballard to the Economic Development Advisory Committee for a term ending Nov. 30, 2014;
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with the City of Dryden for the provision by Fort Frances of Internal Audit Services of Dryden’s Drinking Water Quality Management System;
•agreed that Coun. Ken Perry attend the second local government networking session, which is slated for this Wednesday at the Devlin Hall (Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft will attend if Coun. Perry cannot);
•agreed that Couns. Perry and Wiedenhoeft attend a meeting of the Assisted Living Action Group (A.L.A.G.) on Jan. 23 at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre; and
•heard a presentation from S. Mason, director of Economic and Community Development with the International Falls Economic Development Authority, re: a joint proclamation to celebrate International Borders Day (July 2).
