Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arena Refrigeration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Grand Forks council approves ammonia refrigeration for VFW Memorial Arena over safety concerns
Summary
The East Grand Forks City Council on Sept. 2 approved resolution 25-09-67 to install an ammonia-based indirect refrigerant system at the VFW Memorial Arena, with Council member Dale Helms casting the lone dissent amid questions about fire-department preferences and operator training.
The East Grand Forks City Council voted to adopt resolution 25-09-67 on Sept. 2, approving the installation of an ammonia-based indirect refrigerant system at the VFW Memorial Arena, selecting option 2 as the base bid and including option 3 as an add-alternate.
Council member Dale Helms raised safety concerns during debate, noting recent problems at the arena and questioning whether the fire department has the personnel and equipment to respond to an ammonia leak. "With this ammonia, if they go with that, it's gonna be a lot more dangerous," Helms said, and added he planned to vote no because he felt the council had only a short window to evaluate options.
A city staff member identified in the meeting as King responded that he had consulted with the fire department and that the chief had provided a letter recommending a synthetic system as the safer option. King said the difference in decisions at other arenas stemmed in part from compressor-room layout: "Thief River's compressor room is directly underneath their bleacher system, where ours is set off to the side and separated, ... airtight, environment." He added that modern ammonia systems include alarms, sensors and containment measures and that staff had relied on consultants for system selection.
Helms pressed about training and response costs; King said the consultant described operator certification as a short course (about four hours) but did not provide a cost estimate. King also said that ammonia systems are common in Minnesota arenas and that containment and monitoring features would be part of the installation.
The motion to adopt resolution 25-09-67 was moved by Council member Karen Peterson and seconded by Council member Tammy Schumacher. On roll call, Helms voted no; the remaining council members voted yes, and the motion passed.
The council's adoption moves the project forward into the bidding process with the selected options and leaves final registration of other project actions, grant awards, and contractor selection for subsequent council action.
