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Council discusses arena redevelopment, BMX idea and fall activities to fund repairs
Summary
Council members discussed reusing and repairing the city arena (the 'mud box'), a resident-proposed BMX track, potential donor funding to rebuild facilities, and activity-committee plans for events (Halloween trunk-or-treat, mud volleyball) to raise funds for arena repairs.
Burleigh councilors spent a portion of the Aug. 20 meeting discussing ideas to rehabilitate the city's arena (referred to in the meeting as the 'mud box'), possible private donations to rebuild a concession stand, and a proposed BMX track that volunteers could help construct.
Council members said the arena needs cleanup and repairs before it can reliably host events; one council member described an approach that would keep the arena as a multi-use facility for rodeos, motor events and other community activities. A local resident and volunteer (identified in the meeting as Chris Westland) has offered to help with construction, and a private businessperson has approached city staff with an offer to invest in facility upgrades in exchange for running events there; council members said any such arrangement would need to follow city attorney review and a written agreement.
The council's Activities Committee presented several ideas to raise money for arena improvements: a free trunk-or-treat and a spook alley to charge admission at the middle school pavilion (with proceeds earmarked for arena repairs), a possible mud volleyball event in September, and other July 4 activities tied to fundraising. Committee members described plans to solicit donations and seek sponsors for those events; council members said donations that involve money will be processed by staff and recorded into appropriate line items.
Council members also discussed cleaning up metal debris, repairing a concession stand roof, and applying for a grant the local health department is pursuing to cover concession improvements; the health department contact told the council she was working on a grant to fund a concession building wrap and related materials.
Ending: Council asked staff to prioritize cleaning and securing the arena site, to vet any private donation or event-hosting proposals with the city attorney, and to allow the Activities Committee to proceed with planning the fall and holiday events to raise funds for repairs.
