Casper council confirms $3.2 million set aside for second ice sheet, leaves deadline at year-end

Councilors confirmed that $3,200,000 remains set aside for a proposed second sheet of ice at the Casper Ice Arena and said the city will hold the funding until the end of the calendar year for the user groups to finalize financing.

The matter arose during public comment when Ross Shriffman asked whether the city should set a hard deadline to reclaim the funds if the user groups do not raise the additional money. "There should be a hard deadline when if they can't raise the money, that the money reverts back to the city," Shriffman said.

Mayor Ray Pacheco responded by asking the city manager to clarify the status. Jay Carter Napier, City Manager, told the council "The amount is actually $3,200,000" and that the deadline is a hard set date of "the end of the calendar year." Napier said multiple user groups are pursuing funding alternatives and are aware of the date.

Council discussion showed a split in tone but not in final direction. Councilor Pollock said it was reasonable to keep working on funding options after a failed ballot measure, arguing that a failed vote did not necessarily mean the projects must be abandoned. "I don't think that just because they failed at the ballot that...we should discontinue efforts to achieve those projects," Pollock said. The vice mayor and other councilors urged keeping the commitment to the user groups while they pursue financing; one councilor called rescinding the funding a "non-starter."

No motion to reassign the funds was made at the meeting. The council recorded this as an informational update and proceeded with other business.

The council will revisit budget and project status in future meetings or if user groups notify the city that they cannot meet the year-end deadline.