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County hears commercial ice-rink proposal for Okanogan County Fairgrounds
Summary
Vendors described a modular refrigerated rink for the fairgrounds; commissioners discussed costs, storage, sponsorship and next steps including issuing a procurement request but took no formal vote.
Anthony Barbanente, a sales representative for Iron Sleek, described a removable, refrigerated ice rink the company said can be installed at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds for winter community use. The presentation covered rink sizes, required refrigeration capacity, typical set-up and teardown, and rough cost estimates.
The discussion matters because the proposal would require county capital or operating funds, staff time and a procurement process. Commissioners said they want to test viability before committing funds and discussed sponsorships and rental models to reduce taxpayer exposure.
Barbanente said a 40-by-60-foot rink is a common starting point and that the company offers two refrigeration-capacity options “depending on the budget,” and that chillers and piping are designed to be palletized for seasonal storage. He estimated lead time from order to delivery at about two months when inventory is available and described a typical electrical use and maintenance profile. He told commissioners the product can keep ice in daytime temperatures into the mid-40s and that covered installations extend operability further.
Commissioners and staff pressed on financing, logistics and season length. Barbanente said his firm has seen communities rely on sponsorships and community fundraising; he cited examples in McHenry, Illinois, where sponsors helped offset costs. He also gave example first‑year figures he said were “penciled out” for a comparable installation: roughly $40,000 in upfront deposit or first‑year rental, an additional $15,000 for a one‑time set‑up fee, about $5,000 in ancillary equipment and electricity in the range of $1,000–$1,500 per month, while warning those figures vary by system size and local conditions.
County officials asked operational questions — storage footprint, whether chillers must be sheltered, staffing for daily maintenance and how repairs would be handled. Barbanente said his company provides training, spare parts and remote troubleshooting and that the most common maintenance items have been small pump gaskets and filter adjustments.
On next steps, commissioners said the county would likely include interested vendors in a formal procurement: an RFQ or RFP. A commissioner asked the company to provide a boilerplate specification document to use in a future procurement; Barbanente agreed to supply such a document once the county signals intent to move forward. No formal purchase or contract extension occurred at the meeting.
If the county moves forward, staff and commissioners said they would seek to limit the county’s financial exposure by pursuing sponsorships, possible rent‑to‑own or multi‑year payment arrangements and by comparing vendor proposals through standard procurement channels.
The presentation closed with commissioners asking staff to work with the absent commissioner and to include the vendor on any upcoming RFQ/RFP. The county did not vote on a purchase at the meeting.
