Kinsmen Community Arenas will receive a $1.58 million infusion to replace the concrete in one of the rinks at the facility in Morrisroe.
By a vote of 7-1, Red Deer city council approved the funding out of its debt repayment reserve on Tuesday. The A Side will be shut down for up to 10 months while the floor is replaced. Work is expected to get underway in the coming weeks.
Over the last season the cooling piping embedded in the concrete on the Kinsmen A Side has failed to the point the entire floor must be replaced.
“There will be some time when it will not be available this fall,” said Greg Scott, the city’s Director of Community Services. “We’re going to work with some of the users of our ice and try to look at some strategies to provide them with that ice time. But it will have implications to our users.”
Scott said city staff is currently developing the demolition plan with a potential re-opening date for Jan. 1, 2014.
The twin Kinsmen Arenas were built at different times with different materials. The B Side was built in 1975 and the A Side was added in 1988.
The arena’s normal ice season is August to March. It is also rented from April to July for dry space activities. The ice season was closed on March 24 and the A Side is currently closed to the public. The spring and summer dry space activities were moved to alternate facilities.
Coun. Chris Stephan said he did not support the funding source because the money needs to stay put to help pay off the approaching $258 million in city debt in 2013.
Stephan said the city has a capital project reserve and this project seems like a capital project.
Coun. Tara Veer was absent.
In other council news:
l Council endorsed Coun. Paul Harris to stand for election on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board of Directors. The endorsement includes a $14,500 price tag for attending meetings and other related costs. A maximum of $1,000 related to a campaign for election was approved. The funding will be come out of the tax stabilization reserve. FCM represents the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction. The FCM is governed by a board of directors consisting of persons elected from the membership.
lCentral Spray & Play and Glendale Skate Park are the official names of the city’s newest spray park and skate park. City council approved the name recommendation for spray park in downtown Red Deer (4620-47th Street) and the skate park in Glendale (6391-76 Street).
lThe City of Red Deer has added its voice to the chorus of those opposing the closure of the Michener Centre. Councillors said they felt it was important to take a position. Councillors expressed concerns about the impact on the residents, the families and the community.
“We ask the province to respect the commitments made to the families that the remaining Michener Centre families be able to finish their years in their homes,” said Wyntjes “For me those commitments should be honoured.”
l Discussion on the bike lane pilot project was tabled for up to four weeks. Coun. Chris Stephan brought the motion forward to put an end to the pilot at the last council meeting. An update on the pilot has already been slated for sometime in April. Councillors reasoned it made sense to wait for the report before discussing the pilot. Stephan said it is better to talk about the pilot sooner than later because it is a hot button issue in the community. Council will work together at a workshop on April 8 to look at specific areas that areas of concern. Coun. Cindy Jefferies said she is excited to see the lanes in use over a full summer. The last of the lanes were painted in late August.
“I sure hope council will stick to the pilot project recognizing we have some issues,” said Jefferies. “We have created change and it has caused some chaos and confusion.”
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com