9. ICESR 08-15-2017Request for Action
To Item Number
Arena Commission 9.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Arena Manager’s Update August 15, 2017 Rich Czech, Arena Manager
Item Description Reviewed by
Arena Manager’s Update Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Receive information.
Background/Discussion
Upcoming Events:
Ice in the Barn - September 20, 2017
Fall Annual Craft Fair - September 16 &17
Midwest Hockey Tournament August 26 & 27
Completed Summer Projects
New gate to the northeast corner of the Olympic Rink
New doors to the front entrance of the Arena
Removed levelers from the north end of the Olympic rink
Cleaned and painted the locker rooms walls throughout the building
Top ends rebuilt on compressors; Barn # 1/Olympic # 2
Ice Plants
This summer, we have repaired several leaks on the Olympic ice plant. Due to these leaks, we have put
750 pounds of refrigeration into the system at $25/pound. Even with regular leak checks, leaks are hard
to detect because they can be very small at first and can leak several pounds of refrigeration before
detected. Due to the age of the systems, the system could be leaked-checked one day and a leak could
arise the next. Recently, we had another minor leak in the Olympic rink, in which an estimated 300
pounds of refrigeration were lost. We are delay purchasing any refrigeration until the Barn ice plant is
started and determine if any refrigeration for the Barn is needed.
Learn to Skate
This year, the arena is partnering with Youth Hockey and the Figure Skating Club to develop a Learn to
Skate program that caters to the recreation skater as well as to both associations. Fall classes will be held
Monday nights for nine sessions and will move to Saturdays in the winter to accommodate youth
hockey’s need for more weekday ice. The spring session will go back to Monday nights through April.
Mighty Duck Grant
From 1995 – 2000, the Mighty Duck grant program provided funds to communities to add sheets of ice
due to the expansion of girl’s hockey. The grant provides equal ice time to both girls and boys programs.
In 2014, Minnesota legislation re-authorized funds targeted for arenas to update air quality equipment
and to change out refrigeration systems that were using R22 refrigeration systems. This year the grant
wasn’t funded by the state; however, after speaking with Mark Erickson, the program director of the
Mighty Duck grant program, he feels that’s there’s a strong possibility that funds may be re-issued in
2018.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
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