Visitors commission wins permission for temporary ice-rink base; historic and insurance approvals required for permanent work

The Scott County visitors commission won board approval on Oct. 15 to install a temporary spray-sand base for a proposed synthetic ice rink on the courthouse lawn, but commissioners clarified that any permanent work will require approvals from the State Historic Preservation office and adequate insurance coverage naming the county as an additional insured.

A visitors commission representative said the commission proposes to purchase the rink for $32,500 and use it seasonally, noting that comparable one-month rentals could cost about $70,000. "This is purchasing it for 32,500," the representative said, describing a plan to operate roughly November through March and later pair the rink with a pavilion and visitor restrooms.

Commissioners raised procedural and liability questions. A commissioner explained that the county is partially self-insured and that the first $250,000 of claims would come from county funds; the board said an event-specific policy naming the county as an additional insured would address the county’s exposure for event incidents.

Because the proposal involves work on the courthouse square, commissioners said they would not authorize permanent work — such as concrete foundations — until the county receives formal clearance from the historic-preservation office. The visitors commission said it can use temporary plywood or sand base to begin this season if historic approval is not yet complete.

After discussing staging, safety, and vendor selection, a commissioner moved to allow the visitors commission to install a spray-sand base for the rink; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Commissioners and staff agreed to help with contractor contacts and a process for reviewing bids if the pavilion moves to the formal procurement stage.