The Moses Lake City Council voted to rent a temporary chiller to keep the community ice rink open after staff reported multiple leaks in the rink’s 30‑year‑old heat‑exchanger system.

Doug Coutts, director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, told the council technicians discovered multiple leaks in the heat exchanger (also called the evaporator) during startup. He said the earliest permanent repair turnaround is six to eight weeks and that complete replacement could take 10–14 weeks; parts for the existing unit are no longer reliably available (Doug Coutts).

Coutts presented three options: a short‑term rental portable chiller (previously used two years ago) at about $33,000 per month, a repair of the existing unit estimated at about $180,000 (6–8 weeks), or a full replacement estimated at $350,000–$400,000 (longer lead time). He reported a firm rental quote that, with tax, would be roughly $107,000 for a three‑month period.

Council members expressed broad support for a temporary rental to preserve the season, while urging a plan for a permanent replacement and potential funding sources. Council Member Martinez and others asked whether rental or repair costs come from the general fund; staff said the rental would be funded from the general fund initially and the city has pursued insurance reimbursement in prior incidents (Doug Coutts, Madeline Prentice).

Council moved and approved a motion to proceed with a three‑month rental of a temporary unit to maintain ice operations for the season.

Funding and next steps

Staff said the hockey association pays fees that currently go into the general fund and that association fundraising could supplement capital funding. Coutts said the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) capital fund, which holds roughly $320,000 plus recent allocations, could be a candidate for a permanent replacement and that staff will pursue that capital‑funding option.

This decision keeps scheduled games and tournaments feasible in the near term and buys time for staff to refine cost estimates for repair or replacement and pursue capital funds or insurance reimbursement.