The Kinsmen Arena in Yorkton is on its last legs.
The facility has struggled with condensation issues for years, primarily because the facility was not designed to handle the humidity associated with ice being installed in the warmer weather months.
In 2009, an assessment of the arena pegged the life expectancy of the Kinsmen Arena at a decade, which means we are on the eve of that date.
Now no one expects the arena to suddenly fall into total disrepair at some point next year, but it would seem the facility will soon be working on borrowed time.
A few years ago, a presentation was made to Yorkton Council suggesting a third ice surface was needed in the city. While there are certainly hockey teams which travel to neighbouring communities to access better ice times for practices, games, and tournaments, the idea of a third ice surface never gained much traction.
But there is no way a community the size of Yorkton could reasonably operate the hockey and figure skating programs expected of residents on a single ice surface.
So a replacement of the Kinsmen Arena is a must.
The question is less about whether to build and much more about where a new arena should be located.
There are two logical spots, where the current Kinsmen Arena is, or as part of an expanded Gallagher Centre.
While a review of both is warranted, the logical choice seems obvious, planting the new facility at the Gallagher Centre.
The potential for tournaments, trade shows and other activities would be enhanced by such a move, but it goes further.
There are other things that need addressing at the Gallagher Centre, from the sound system in the Nexera Flexihall to the tiny, antiquated dressing rooms of the Farrell Agencies Arena. Such deficiencies could be most easily addressed as part of a larger project to add the new ice surface.
Funding such a project, of course, will be a consideration for Council.
In the 2017 Draft Audited Financial Statements circulated to Council Aug. 27, the financial statements included an indication the City’s debt limit is $42 million.
Currently long term debt sits at just shy of $17.5 million, including: fire hall ($4,398,960), Gallagher Centre ($2,446,050), waterworks ($4,734,000), and Dracup Avenue ($5,920,245).
This leaves the city with approximately $24.5 million of debt available, as of Dec. 31, 2017.
The current levy for the Gallagher Centre comes off the books by 2021, according to City Manager Lonnie Kaal at Monday’s meeting.
The combination would suggest the capacity to borrow for the project, and an extension of the levy could be an avenue to making the payments.
So the key moving forward is to get the scope of the project defined to address the short and mid-term needs of our community.
