Council asking $5.5-million rink questions

Should the town build a new double-rink facility, or put a second ice surface next to the existing Memorial Arena?
That is one of three questions Fort Frances council wants the public to answer before it decides what kind of facility it will build here.
As the town signs off on its previous contract for an 87,000 sq. ft. double-rink arena here, it is seeking public input Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre before it re-tenders the project.
Council also is asking if people:
owant a second rink built at the existing arena site or putting the rinks elsewhere; and
owant to see North American or Olympic-sized ice surfaces.
But “Ice for Kids” co-chairs Les Baker and Dave Egan warned the delays (they’re now looking at an October, 1999 completion date) and indecision may lead to pledges being pulled from their fundraising effort.
“We have people who are threatening to take their money away,” Egan told the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night.
“We’re not trying to bluff. And some of them are substantial donors,” he stressed.
“And I don’t know if ‘Ice for Kids’ is going to be able to hold up to their obligation of $500,000 plus the cost of the ‘Wall of Fame,’” added Baker.
They said “Ice for Kids” took pledges based on two new rinks built side-by-side, as was proposed by the previous council last February.
Many people, Baker noted, were waiting to hear the results of Monday’s meeting, saying one $5,000 contributor tentatively had pulled a pledge.
“Right in the community now, there’s controversy around the timeframe of this project,” Baker said. “The general public that are supporters for ‘Ice For Kids’ don’t want to see this thing drag on.”
“But isn’t it better that we wait and we do it right rather than decide in an hour?” asked Border Figure Skating Club president Tammy DeAmicis.
In fact, council noted the rush before Christmas to get the arena project moving was what caused the problems that ultimately lead to its axing.
Coun. Roy Avis said he attended a public meeting in December and noted many people–including those on the arena steering committee–weren’t clear what was happening.
Some people believed even at the end that their pledge dollars were going towards keeping Memorial Arena and building a second indoor surface, echoed Coun. Dave Bourgeault.
“People are very concerned about that structure coming down,” Coun. Avis said.
“It was never ‘Ice for Kids’ idea to go with two,” Baker added. “But when it was laid on the plate for us, we started licking.”
“Ice for Kids,” though, is still maintaining it would like to see two new surfaces–one Olympic-sized (with minimal seating) and one North American-sized (with seating for 1,200)–at the Memorial Arena site.
Baker also felt the new plan should stick with the 87,000 sq. ft. design.
“Anything less, I don’t think is going to be the size of facility that’s going to suit everybody,” he noted.
But Coun. Deane Cunningham felt the plan that had been on the table had been under-estimated, stressing cost was going to dictate which route council opted to go.
While the debenture has been issued and the dollars are in the bank, Coun. Sharon Tibbs noted the town couldn’t commit more than the $5 million to the arena project.
And if it looks at retrofitting Memorial Arena, the town will push up the structural inspection it has slated for next year to determine its life expectancy.
“If that was used as a spare and a brand new Memorial Arena was built there, not attached, would that meet the needs of a new spectator arena?” Coun. Bourgeault asked, with that rink being 80’x190’ in size.
“That’s not what we’d like to see but we’re not going to bite your hand if that’s what’s on the table,” Baker noted.
Meanwhile, Baker admitted he’s not surprised council opted to take this route.
“I felt it would have to be opened up to the public again and that’s a good thing,” he said.
And while the concern about the delay is there, he felt people would come to the public meeting to voice their opinions.