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Staff proposes keeping ice at Blue Line Arena through June 15
Summary
City staff told the East Grand Forks City Council on Jan. 27 it is requesting permission to keep ice in the Blue Line Arena through June 15 so the Blue Line Club and a figure‑skating club can schedule spring and summer rentals; staff said the clubs will cover most operating costs but warned humidity could force earlier removal.
City staff presented a request to the East Grand Forks City Council on Jan. 27 to keep the ice installed at the Blue Line Arena through June 15 to accommodate spring and summer rentals.
"We're requesting to keep ice in at the Blue Line Arena similar to what we did last year," said Mr. King, a city staff member, noting discussions with the Blue Line Club and a figure‑skating club about a spring and summer rental schedule. He added that the clubs "will cover the the majority of the cost" for utilities and part‑time staff to operate the facility.
Mr. King said staff envisions the longer season becoming a standard practice after planned facility improvements to dehumidification and other systems are completed, with ice typically going in around September and remaining through the end of June at city arenas.
Council members asked technical questions about the plan. Council member Dale Helms confirmed the two arenas use separate ice plants, clarifying that keeping ice at one site should not delay work at the other arena. Council member Tammy Schumarker cautioned that the Blue Line Arena is "not as insulated" as other facilities and that warm, humid conditions in late May or early June "could" create humidity problems that force staff to remove the ice earlier than planned; she noted successful use of dehumidifiers and controlling building entrances in the fall.
No formal vote on the extended‑season request was recorded in the meeting minutes; the item was presented, discussed, and then the council moved on to the next agenda item.
