Madison finance committee approves resolution to preserve Hartmeyer Ice Arena pending $3 million campaign

The Finance Committee of the City of Madison voted unanimously Jan. 6 to advance a resolution that would transfer Hartmeyer Ice Arena from Madison Ice Inc. to the East Madison Ice Collective if the collective raises $3 million in cash or equivalent in-kind services for capital repairs.

The resolution matters because Hartmeyer faces urgent capital needs — a new roof, chiller and compressor, HVAC upgrades and electrical work — and the proposal is designed to keep both city ice rinks operating without additional direct city funding. Under the agreement, the city would restructure roughly $1.6 million in outstanding debt as a forgivable loan and apply deed restrictions limiting future uses to sports and recreation; the committee added an amendment requiring future ownership to be held by nonprofit organizations.

Matt McCloshevsky, Economic Development Director for the City of Madison, told the committee the proposal gives the East Madison Ice Collective (EMIC) three years to raise the $3 million needed to make Hartmeyer safe and operable. "Prior to completing any of the transactions that are contemplated in this resolution, EMIC would need to raise that $3,000,000 or the equivalent of in kind services,"…