By Glenn Hicks

Shellbrook rink gets fixes, more to come

Sep 20, 2018 | 4:35 PM

The ambitious plans to replace aging components of the Shellbrook Recreation Complex are all within reach according to the chair of the Recreation Project Steering Committee.

A new $400,000 ice plant featuring a reverse osmosis water system was put in over the summer and there’s confidence more big ticket items totaling close to a million dollars are on the way in the coming months and year.

“We are confident that we would have the money available, with fund raising that we’re expecting and with some of the grants that will be coming our way,” Brent Miller told paNOW. He added he is hopeful a major grant announcement would be coming soon.

The new ice plant, which Miller said has dramatically cut down on energy costs and turnaround time for the curling and skating rinks is one of four major priorities set out for the complex by the steering committee, all of which he said would not involve additional tax increases for ratepayers.

The remaining upgrades include a new ice resurfacing machine for around $135,000 which is on order for early next year, and new boards with netting and glass for around $230,000. The biggest outstanding item on the list is a new floor for the arena which Miller hopes can come in at the lower end of their budget spectrum.

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“The cost is somewhere between $450,000 and $650,000, and I say that because last year the bids were all on the higher end of that and we thought that was a bit rich,” he said. Miller added a new tendering document would go out in mid-November and the aim was to have the new floor done next summer.

Miller said even if the expected grants didn’t materialize they were committed to doing the flooring but there would have to be increased fund raising to pay off some borrowing.

Miller praised the community for their fundraising efforts and highlighted the recent contributions of one local village as an example of the commitment to getting the complex shipshape.

“The village of Parkside gave us $2,000 recently and they also have an annual demolition derby there and the Parkside Community Association gave us $15,000 last year and $10,000 this year, so that’s very encouraging for the committee,“ he said.

Miller also noted the committee discussed the possiblilty of entering the TSN Kraft Hockeyville competition that awards a $250,000 prize to the winner, but he added that would require a considerable undertaking by the community.

As efforts continue toward capital upgrades to the complex there should be a clearer direction on the political front later in the year as to how ratepayers outside Shellbrook town limits can contribute to the ongoing operational costs of the complex.

The RM of Shellbrook is surveying all its ratepayers regarding what appetite they have for paying regular amounts toward the complex. This followed the steering committee’s earlier petition asking for input regarding a regular $75,000 contribution from RM residents toward the $230,000 annual cost of operating the facility.

That could mean some sort of tax increase or annual levy for rural ratepayers but nothing has been decided yet pending the review of the survey results.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow