CARROT RIVER — A replacement for the Carrot River arena condenser unit will be purchased ahead of schedule.
The condenser was originally meant for the Town of Carrot River’s 2020 capital plan, but due to a push from a user group to have earlier ice for a year and half, council voted at its May 15 meeting to buy a new one now in partnership with the RM of Moose Range.
Kevin Trew, the town’s administrator, said the condenser unit that’s currently in the arena has corrosion.
“There are problems and it is more and more inefficient. It’s approaching beyond its life expectancy.”
The corrosion is causing the unit to work harder, resulting in an inefficient use of power
The unit is an integral part of causing the arena to have ice as early as October. The new condenser that the town is considering will allow the arena to be used as early as September.
The challenge for the town was the cost was not budgeted until the 2020 year.
The town first approached insurance groups to see if they could receive money to pay for this project.
“The answer is no, it’s not failing, it hasn’t failed and it’s not failing,” Trew said. “We asked our refrigeration experts, our long time refrigeration company if they could comment it’s going to fail soon, they would not. They just said, ‘no, we can’t comment that’.”
Stevenson Refrigeration, knowing the cost is not planned until 2020, offered to finance the project for the remainder of the cost if the town can find the first $50,000. In addition, the cost of installation will cost $10,000.
During the council meeting, Coun. Mike Livermore and his wife, Heather Livermore, offered to finance the $60,000 to start the project. As a result of this, neither the Town of Carrot River nor the RM of Moose Range would have to spend money until 2020, as originally planned.
Along with the condenser, the arena’s electrical panel will also be replaced. Trew said while they don’t need to be replaced together, it’s what experts recommend.
“It’s a very large upgrade for us, but it’s necessary. Our staff has had trouble with the electrical control panels that we have right now. We know that there is an upgrade needed for that.”
