HUMBOLDT — With infrastructure funding provided by the province, the city is planning to build a new skating rink that can be used for other sports in the summer.
In its application to the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program, the city budgeted $350,000 for the project.
Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor, said a new outdoor skating rink has been on the books ever since the city sold the piece of property the old one sat on to Caleb Village.
“This is, in my mind, something that needed to be done. It's an opportunity that I think we need to grasp here,” he said.
“This isn't just a rink. It's going to be used year round, in the summer and in the winter.”
In the summer, the space can be set up for tennis, basketball, ball hockey and other sports.
No location has been set for the project.
Councillor Sandy Weyland asked how the $350,000 estimate was determined. Joe Day, Humboldt’s city manager, said when staff talked to other communities that have done similar projects, it cost between $80,000 and $100,000 for the pad, between $75,000 and $90,000 for a board system, $15,000 for a chain link fence, and between $50,000 and $100,000 for a warm up shack/equipment building.
“It does add up fairly quickly when you get into these types of projects,” Day said.
The city manager added the city would be looking for ways to reduce the final bill. If that’s done, the money will be used for other infrastructure projects.
“We'll come back to council obviously as to where it's located, what all features it's going to have, and those types of things.”
Humboldt received a total of nearly $844,000 from the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program, which is part of the province’s response to the pandemic. Council voted to spend the money on eight projects at its June 22 meeting.
A new turnoff on Highway 5 into Centennial Park and the Uniplex will cost $75,000. The highway will be widened to create a safer intersection. Paired with that project is a widening of the highway at 21st Street for a turning lane for those heading north, which will cost an additional $75,000.
Within the Uniplex, the city will spend $75,000 to replace two boilers that are at the end of their expected lives with two new high-efficiency boilers. The move is expected to save on operating costs at the facility.
The city will also spend $20,000 for pumps and water lines to water Glenn Hall Park using water that the Humboldt Golf Club uses from Water Ridge Pond. A memo to council said that while the city may have to enter an agreement with the golf club for the water, right now it is irrigating the park with fully treated, potable water that is more expensive.
The remaining three projects focus on paving, water lines and storm water drainage.
