Inspections show limited roof moisture but long-term ice-rink damage at Taos Youth and Family Center

The Taos Town Council on the meeting record heard two inspection reports for the Youth and Family Center on the city-owned site: an infrared (IR) drone scan of the roof and a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the ice-rink slab.

The IR scan of the roof, performed at the insurance company’s request, found that moisture had not penetrated broadly into the roof system; the contractors identified a single small moisture spot of about 16 square feet outside the primary fire-damaged area. “There was a key, a small, I think it was… about 16 square feet in size of a moisture spot,” Jason Atencio of Garland said during the presentation. He said the IR work was done by Monroe Infrared in accordance with FAA drone rules and that the insurance company requested the scan and will cover the cost.

But the slab underlying the ice rink showed far more serious problems. Consultant Mister Hurd, presenting remotely for Pegasus Environmental, said radar and subsystem scans revealed an “embedded mat” construction with uneven sand layers, compromised or missing drainage, and voids in the foundation beneath the concrete. Hurd told councilors the rink had been built using a mat system intended for temporary installations and then embedded in concrete; that matting and the small-diameter tubing (5/8-inch rather than the 1-inch commonly used) are now “terribly uneven” and largely compromised. “What we’re seeing… is a failure in the foundation, voids in the foundation, which cannot be rectified,” Hurd said.

Parks and Recreation Director Tony Strzok said the combined findings mean the town should not restart the rink’s refrigeration systems. He told councilors the slab produces widely varying ice temperatures — as low as 12 degrees in places and 22 degrees in others — creating “soft ice and hard ice” on the same surface and a safety risk for skaters. “My recommendation would be moving forward, due to the liability that we'd be opening ourselves up to,” he said.

Councilors pressed staff about near-term options for skating programs. Staff and Hurd described short-term alternatives including a portable temporary rink or rented mobile systems; staff said a temporary mobile rink option had been priced at about $10,000 per month in prior inquiries, and a vendor-quoted “artificial” (synthetic) surface had been discussed at higher capital cost. Tony Strzok and staff said use of other sites (for example, Kit Carson Park or Filimon Sanchez) and contractor availability would affect feasibility and timing, and that temporary systems typically must be booked many months in advance.

On potential longer-term responses, staff referenced the 2018 master plan for the Youth and Family Center and said the town may pursue a multi-use sports complex design rather than attempting a like-for-like ice-rink rebuild if the slab is beyond economical repair. “If we decide to go in that manner, that's what we have to build the roof for,” Strzok said, noting that decisions about a new facility type would affect mechanical and rooftop equipment needs.

On the roofing work, staff said the IR report and slab report have already been submitted to the town’s self-insurance fund and the insurance adjuster; the insurance company requested the IR scan and the cost should be covered by insurance. Councilors asked for the structural analysis and additional documentation before approving repairs.

Council members urged staff to pursue options to keep youth skating opportunities while avoiding undue liability or damage to town equipment. Staff said they will return with cost estimates, a structural report when completed, and options for temporary or portable surfaces for the upcoming season.

Ending — Next steps

Staff will deliver the written reports to the self-insurance fund and the adjuster and provide councilors with the structural report when it is complete. The town will also collect vendor pricing for temporary or mobile rink options and present recommendations for short-term programming and longer-term capital planning that consider the 2018 master plan.