Grand Forks city council is still thinking about whether to fund an increase in maintenance for the local curling rink.
A staff report from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary says two loans taken out in 2023 to pay for long-term improvements and repairs “left the long-term budget in a precarious position.”
The curling rink currently receives about $55,000 per year from the city and neighbouring rural areas, of which over $15,000 is eaten up by debt repayment, more than $12,000 goes to insurance, and nearly $5,000 pays for administration.
“The financial capacity remains limited in supporting investment in long-term improvements and maintenance,” the report from recreation manager Paul Keys said.
He recommended the amount the RDKB taxes for the service be increased by about $7,800, to $62,500 per year. The City of Grand Forks would be on the hook for another $2,600, rural Grand Forks another $2,100, and Christina Lake another $3,100.
“Additional funding will increase the ability to do preventative maintenance and carry out some lifecycle replacements, with continuing to build the reserve fund to a level that can support the replacement of ice plant components in the future,” Keys wrote.
He pointed to sprinkler heads that have been in use since 1978. Heads are normally tested after 50 years, but Keys said it would be more cost effective to replace them in 2028 than to have them tested.
He added a number of sprinkler heads should be replaced with proper temperature ratings, and there are a couple of areas where additional sprinklers should be installed.
Other projects include work to stop leaks in the roof and a hot water tank replacement.
“It’s in desperate need of some money put into it,” Mayor Everett Baker said. “I think because of this being preventative maintenance, it needs to be done, and with a very small portion on our part.”
Baker also noted the curling rink is used for events besides curling.
Council debated referring the request to their budget talks. But in the end, they opted to delay a decision until their next meeting, after they have held a strategic planning session.
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