The town received a one-paragraph letter from LM Architects of Winnipeg late Monday afternoon requesting seven more days to determine if a proposed double-rink ice facility can be built here within the $4.9-million budget.
The letter informed the town that LM was awaiting cost estimates from Ernst Hansch Construction, the company that built the Dakota Complex in Winnipeg, which has become the model of sorts for “Ice for Kids.”
The town agreed to give the company the extra week at Monday afternoon’s brief committee of the whole meeting, and will be prepared to call another meeting once they hear back from LM.
The town has set a deadline of May 19.
In the meantime, the town already has sent out requests for proposals from architects for a single-rink facility, with a seating capacity of 1,000-1,200, to be built adjacent to the existing Memorial Arena.
The deadline to submit those proposals is June 9.
Mayor Glenn Witherspoon warned it may become an interesting situation if LM informs the town that it can, indeed, construct the double-rink facility within budget.
“If they come back with $4.9 [million], we’re going to have to look at this very, very seriously,” the mayor said at Monday’s meeting.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
