Village of Burns Lake director of engineering Rick Martin recently updated council on the potential costs to the village as a result of the Burns Lake Rotary Club‘s proposed multipurpose outdoor arena.
In his report, he said the costs to maintain the outdoor arena would approximate $16,548 per year, including snow plowing.
While he said the concrete slab for the arena has been designed to withstand the climate, the high boards and specialized fencing would require the purchase of additional snow plowing equipment that would result an initial $10,0000 outlay for the village.
Martin also added that plowing the facility in winter would take a back seat to numerous other snow plowing jobs.
“If the high boards and fencing were dropped, it would be easier to maintain and the costs would be lower,” he said.
The topic had first been brought to the council table last month when Burns Lake Rotary Club member Richard Vossen and president Terri Dickson updated council of the status of the project.
Dickson said the club is hoping the village will support the project by providing insurance, taking care of the snow removal during winter, flooding the rink and general upkeep.
“We have put a quarter of a million dollars or more into this project and we are working on a tight time line. If it is not in this council’s wishes to proceed, be honest about it and let us know so that we don’t spend any more time working on it,” Dickson said.
Councillor Susan Schienbein said the village has to consider the ongoing capital costs. “Rotary does a terrific job of doing community projects, but then there is challenges for the village to provide ongoing support. There is also the capital costs to consider.” She used the tennis courts that the Burns Lake Rotary Club funded as an example. “We are now looking at $25,000 for the resurfacing of the tennis courts from a very limited tax base. Insurance and liability …. how does it work if people are skating and there is sticks and pucks flying?” she asked.
Vossen said he did not think the insurance and liability issues would be any different for the outdoor rink, than they are for the Y2K Skateboard Park that the Burns Lake Rotary Club also funded, and the village maintains.
Sheryl Worthing, village chief administrative officer said, “The rink would be insured as a public facility. We would maintain it and insure it. It would become a Village of Burns Lake asset and be included under our liability.”
After Martin updated council on the potential costs of supporting the proposed outdoor arena, Coun. John Illes said the cost of maintaining the outdoor arena, along with the purchase of additional snow plowing equipment, would result in a 1.5 per cent municipal tax increase.
Councillor Schienbein agreed. “It’s great to have this infrastructure, but it does come as an expense,” she said.
Council is yet to make a decision on providing support for the project.
The proposed outdoor arena, would be located at the Dick Schritt Ball Park site, would be well lit and free of charge. During spring, summer and fall the outdoor arena could potentially be used for ball hockey, lacrosse, basketball, roller skiing and roller skating.
The Burns Lake Rotary Club say it would also be an ideal site for community activities such as a farmer’s market due to its central location, with plenty of space for parking.
There will be $50,000 worth of players benches, a spot for pumps and a water line running from the sani-dump site. The project would be landscaped and the Rotary Club say tourists and locals would be drawn to the area.
