Rec Hockey urges city to pursue $250,000 grant for Cary Park; council schedules EDA review

The International Falls Rec Hockey Association asked the city to pursue a Mighty Ducks grant worth up to $250,000 to help replace Cary Park Arena’s aging refrigeration system. Jared Baldwin, speaking for the association, said the group expects a written quote for a modern, skid-mounted refrigeration plant by the next day and urged the council not to decline the grant opportunity.

City staff and councilors raised immediate financing concerns. Administrator Bergstrom explained that the grant requires the local unit of government to be the applicant and to document proof of matching funds. Bergstrom said the existing Cary Park system is an R‑22 indirect system and that a partial conversion could cost roughly $500,000 but that a full replacement—accounting for compressors and updated electrical—could push total costs above $1 million. “We could potentially convert the system for upwards of $500,000; however, it’s going to be roughly over a million dollars, given the fact that our compressors and electrical are at end of life,” Bergstrom said.

Baldwin told the council his vendor’s preliminary price for a complete outdoor skid unit would be under $600,000 installed and that a formal quote would arrive the next day. Councilors stressed that a grant application without verified matching funds and realistic total-cost estimates could be rejected or leave the city on the hook for overruns.

To resolve outstanding questions before the grant deadline, councilors approved a special Economic Development Authority meeting to evaluate available EDA funds, other city reserves, and potential contributions from Rec Hockey. The council discussed holding a Friday morning meeting but, because some members would be absent, agreed to move the EDA meeting to Monday at 4:30 p.m. so more members could attend and staff could compile numbers. The council asked Rec Hockey to provide the vendor quote by noon the day after the meeting and asked city staff to check EDA and capital-outlay reserve balances prior to the meeting.

Councilors and Rec Hockey highlighted the arena’s local significance: tournaments generate hotel stays and community activity, and a catastrophic system failure would disrupt the season and could imperil Rec Hockey’s operations. Rec Hockey said it is willing to fundraise and explore other funding partners, but Councilors repeatedly cautioned that any application must show the city’s ability to provide required matching funds or be submitted by an alternate applicant only if the application would still meet grant rules.

The council also approved hiring three part‑time seasonal parks and facilities workers to support Kerry Park operations, a personnel action connected to ensuring rink operations if a temporary solution is needed while capital decisions proceed.