The Makkovik Inuit Community Government has a tough decision to make: natural or artificial ice.
The decision is one of many they’ll have to deal with as the concept of their new arena begins to take shape.
Terry Rice is the MICG’s Chief Administrative Officer.
He says they met with the project’s prime consultants to discuss the concept earlier this month.
Representatives of the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs also took part in the discussions.
Rice says they’ll be taking operational and maintenance factors into consideration when they decide between artificial or natural ice for their new arena.
They’re hoping the ice rink will be regulation size.
Rice says they have to ensure that they work within their budget.
$12 million dollars has been allocated for the construction of the new facility.
$8 million was announced by the provincial government last summer with the remaining $4 million coming from the Tassiujatsoak Trust.
Rice says they hope to have the concept designs completed by the beginning of July.
They’re optimistic that site preparation will begin this fall.
The selected site for the new arena is an area adjacent to the John Christian Erhardt Memorial School.
Obviously the end decision will be natural ice. It is very expensive to keep an maintain artificial ice. And I don’t think the town is large enough in population to constantly pay for all of the steps to have the ice. Because they would have to pay for either; Salt brine, water with antifreeze or a refrigerant. Not including the expense of ammonia. Then someone will have to get the proper training to keep all of this maintained and up to spec. Then you got to use a significant amount of water anyway, so the most viable option is going with natural ice.