Chestermere city council approved an emergency request by the Chestermere Recreation Community Association (CRCA) for help buying a new ice resurfacing machine Oct. 17.
“Recreation is a big part of who we are as a community,” said Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews.
The city will use up to $175 000 from the Recreation Restricted Surplus Fund for the purchase. By taking the money from the restricted surplus, this purchase will have no effect on next year’s taxes said Matthews.
“We’re pleased with council’s decision to support the rec centre,” said Chestermere Regional Community Association General Manager Jody Nouwen.
The CRCA is currently using a rented ice resurfacer. Their machine broke down about two weeks ago and repairs have been quoted to be more than $20 000.
With close to 9000 service hours or roughly 900 000km circling the ice rinks, the rec centres machine is no longer worth the cost of repairs.
“The one we had on the ice…is roughly four to six years over its estimated life span,” said Nouwen.
“It’s time for a new one,” she said.
Nouwen along with 3 representatives from the CRCA board attended the Oct. 17 council meeting to present their request.
There they asked council to approve one of two options; for the city to provide financial assistance to the CRCA for the purchase of a new machine or for the city to purchase and lease the ice resurfacer back to the CRCA.
Council debated the options presented to them for the purchase and decided the best option for both the city and the CRCA would be for the city to purchase a new ice resurfacing machine and then lease it back to the CRCA on a five-year term.
“The CRCA has been providing quality recreation programs for a long time now,” she said, “we want to ensure that those quality recreation programs continue,”
The purchase of an ice resurfacing machine will ensure that all the skating activities can continue uninterrupted at the recreation centre.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the brand-new machine out there servicing our community,” said Matthews.
The city will now work with the CRCA and go through its tender process to determine which ice resurfacer to purchase that fulfills the CRCA’s needs and is a responsible use of the city’s money.
“From a council perspective we want to make sure…that our community doesn’t suffer from a lack of access to that amenity and access to that ice surface,” said Matthews.
As part of her presentation, Nouwen spoke to council about the CRCA’s preferred choice, the 2016 Olympia Icebear Electric and why this machine will help save costs and provide for the CRCA’s current and future needs.
The electric will reduce that cost of each flood of an ice surface from $2.50 with the current propane powered Olympia machine to $0.18 with the proposed electric one.
“Sometimes we may have up to 25 floods in one day on a weekend,” said Nouwen.
In addition to the costs savings, an electric ice resurfacer will support the CRCA’s sustainability goals.
“We’re thinking about the environment, and the future and the cost savings,” said Nouwen.
Regardless of the machine that they finally get, Nouwen is happy to be continuing to work with the city.
“We’re pleased with the support the city’s given us in the past,” said Nouwen, “and we know that recreation programs are a big part of the City of Chestermere.”
