If you are involved in sport in the city, and in particular with hockey, you are likely aware of the shortcomings of the Kinsmen Arena.
While there are specific issues like out-dated dressing rooms and a low ceiling, the root issue is a facility that is nearing the end of its life.
The arena was built in 1978, with no major renovations undertaken since, and that means replacement is something the City has to prepare for. The Kinsmen isn’t going to fall down overnight, but its age suggests replacement will be required sooner than later.
So it is expedient that the City is beginning the planning to replace the arena, the first public look at that process was a report to the regular meeting of Yorkton Council last week.
Not surprisingly, the work by aodbt Architecture and Interior Design suggests the replacement arena be attached to the Gallagher Centre.
Consolidating the City’s three ice facilities in a single location, allowing for the use of a single, new ice plant, has obvious benefits.
The combining of facilities would also allow the work to encompass new dressing rooms for the Farrell Agencies Arena, a major deficiency at the facility, in particular for the Junior ‘A’ Terriers and ‘AAA’ Midget Maulers.
The outlined plan, while still very preliminary, meaning the details are likely to change significantly before any dirt is moved at some point in the future, does suggest some interesting additions beyond a new ice surface. The additional elements include the possibility of field turf for the Nexera Flexihall which could be taken in and out as needed. The addition would certainly expand the potential usage of the flexihall.
The same can be said for an insulated topper for the Farrell Agencies Arena ice that would allow for additional uses without necessarily removing the ice.
Of course the key element of any plan is going to be the cost, very roughly estimated in last week’s presentation to Council at $14.5 million.
The payments on the project might be easily covered as the existing levy to cover the last Gallagher Centre expansion is due to come off after next year. Council could continue the levy to cover the Kinsmen Arena replacement.
Certainly, the $14.5 million price tag, if it holds as details are hammered out, is not extravagant, but as Mayor Bob Maloney pointed out the arena replacement is not the only big ticket item on the horizon for the City.
The regulations change and the sewage treatment plant in the City is going to require major upgrades, if not an outright replacement in the not too distant future.
And, with a provincial election a year ahead, it would not shock if the long-needed new hospital in the city finally gets the green light. In the new world that means the local municipality will need to come up with 20 per cent. Assuming a final cost of about $100 million, which is what a new hospital in Moose Jaw cost, that’s still $20 million the local municipality has to come up with.
The City does have a debt limit of $42 million, with about $14 million used on major loans for the fire hall, waterworks, Gallagher Centre and Dracup.
That number is one which was established a number of years ago, and had to be approved by the province. It is not a standard amount across all cities in the province, with each municipality determining the level of debt they are comfortable carrying at the maximum and then applying to have that level approved. In that respect it can be raised if a city and the province agree.
With about $28 million possible to borrow the numbers don’t jive if the hospital and Kinsmen Arena replacement hit at roughly the same time, without any additional borrowing needs that might pop up.
So the Kinsmen Arena needs replacing, but how and when that takes place requires balancing with other financial needs in the city.
