HOULTON, Maine — What is the future of ice skating at the John Millar Civic Center?
That is the question Houlton Town Councilors have been mulling for some time and the answer may be coming as soon as next Monday.
Houlton Town Manager Eugene Conlogue said Tuesday that he is currently gathering data on what it would cost for new hockey boards, refurbishing the existing boards or purchasing used boards for the skating program at the civic center.
In April, the council approved a $194,000 loan package that included several pieces of equipment for the civic center. With the loan money, the Millar Arena will purchase a new computerized temperature control system, estimated to cost $22,000; replace a compressor for the ice rink, at a cost of $12,000; and purchase a new skate sharpener, at a cost of $1,000.
In addition, $25,000 of that $194,000 was allocated for the hockey board replacement fund. The town now has about $75,000 for hockey boards. Several months ago, the town estimated it would cost $150,000 for new boards.
The existing boards have gone well past their expected lifespan, as the town originally acquired the boards in used condition. The town hoped to have the RSU 29 school board contribute half of the cost for new boards, using money from the district’s capital reserve account.
At a May 1 meeting, the school’s finance committee heard a presentation from the town manager, but ultimately decided not to assist the town. Some on the committee questioned whether the district could legally use funds from its capital reserve account to pay for items that they would not own.
Following that meeting, Conlogue sent an e-mail to members of the council, advising them of the school’s decision. In that e-mail, Conlogue suggested the town could start the process of looking into recreating an outdoor ice skating rink.
This would include looking at the location of the old outdoor rink, what would need to be done to get it back into operation, and a ballpark estimate of the cost to operate it. As soon as this exercise is completed, he will present a full report, including action recommendations, to the council.
Conlogue said Tuesday morning that he was continuing to collect data and hoped to have enough information to present to the council at its May 13 meeting. If he is unable to gather the data by that meeting, Conlogue said he would present his findings at the May 28 meeting.
