Posted: 5/10/06
Final Draft - by Cliff Buchan
Ice arena must be part of community center plan
How important is the ice arena component to a Forest Lake Community Center proposal?
If the decision by the Hallberg Family Foundation of Forest Lake to buy a new Zamboni for ISD 831ís Maroon and Gold Arena is an indication, the arena is very important.
The news last week that the foundation would spend more than $106,000 for a new ice resurfacing machine for the school arena should be cheered in all circles.
There is no question that the ice arena is a key component of the community center plan.
There is also no question that this communityís ability to deal with the arena question has been an open wound since the late 1970s when the ground work for todayís arena was set.
It has never been easy. Finding ways to build and fund an indoor skating facility has been difficult at best. But it did happen at Maroon and Gold, thanks to the many volunteers who carried the water in the early years and the school district for its commitment to continue the facility at a time when that help was essential.
There have been hopes over the past five years that finally a new facility would be built as part of the community center to put the skating program here on a parallel with other neighboring communities.
Two ice sheets would be great; one sheet would be fine, too.
But still there is little hope on the horizon that this facility will be built in the immediate future.
A recent report from community center task force said as much, based in part on the results of an opinion survey conducted for the task force.
The task force isnít saying the arena wonít get built but officials arenít able to say when or if it will be built.
There were many who had hoped the project ó the community center hub ó could move forward this year or early in 2007.
The brick and mortar construction would come in tandem with exterior work on athletic fields and trails, etc.
Now it appears the latter is the best that folks in Forest Lake can hope for.
With the survey showing lukewarm support for a bond referendum, it now appears the field work is the best that the task force can recommend to the Forest Lake City Council at this point.
Funds from land sales to Washington County for the government center annex and library, and the Pratt Homes Headwaters project, plus park land dedication fees will provide the dollars needed to get the project started.
The reality is, however, that some form of bonding will be needed to get the full project done.
The overall price tag could well top $20 million if the full task force plan is adopted.
There is no question there are complexities.
Task force members see the survey numbers and question the chances of passing a referendum to fund the community center. Task force members also are cognizant of the school districtís plan for some type of excess operating levy in November and understand that too many financial propositions to voters may kill the chances of passing anything.
These are delicate issues that deserve consideration.
But there is also the delicate question of the ice arena and what to do.
Community center proponents bought time two years ago when the school district in partnership with the skating program found a way to fund needed repairs in the ice-making system at the arena.
The plan was a two-year deal that was expected to buy time until the new arena could be built.
That two years is now history and the district is still dealing with a time bomb that may explode with huge maintenance costs that would drain the general fund of valuable resources.
The fall opening of the ice arena will be a time of worry for school folks.
It should also be a worry to the community center folks.
The long and short is that the ice arena needs to be part of the new Forest Lake facility and the task force needs to find a way to get this facility moving.
This fall will mark the fifth anniversary of the start of planning for a community center. For some, more patience may not be a virtue.
With the school district and skating programs expected to be a major revenue generator for the community center arena and users of other center facilities, it is imperative that the ice arena plans gain new life.
If not, this community will risk the loss of skating programs in Forest Lake and these families and programs will eventually be forced to merge with other areas.
Imagine the school enrollment that would be lost without high school hockey programs.
There also is the prospect that a large segment of the population will turn its back on supporting a community center project in the future.
That could translate into negative votes on a community center referendum should one be offered to voters and school district operating levy propositions.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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