City council approves funds for skating rink renovation

Wednesday, the Bloomington city council authorized the appropriation of $250,000 to renovate the Frank Southern Center ice skating area.\nMick Renneisen, Parks and Recreation Department director, said another $300,000 had already been raised to help provide finances for the renovations. Of this, $150,000 came from a previous grant from the council, $50,000 from a Lilly grant and $100,000 from the Build Indiana Fund. \n"There would still be a slight shortage in finances if we were to make all the renovations that we want to, but efforts are already on to raise more money," Renneisen said.\nPlanned renovations include fixing roads and providing the arena with better insulation as well as upgrading the electrical service and repairing motor room controls.\nRenneisen also wants to replace light fixtures with fewer but more efficient fixtures as well as restructure the lobby area and install an air conditioning system and dehumidifier for the entire building. He also wants to improve ventilation in the locker rooms.\nRenneisen said added features such as the dehumidifier will facilitate the functioning of the rink for a longer time than is possible now.\nThe Parks Department negotiated a guaranteed energy savings contract with Energy Systems Group, Inc., which is expected to save an estimated $30,000 a year in energy during a 10-year period.\nBut Bud Nixon, chairman of the Ice Skating Task Force, said he is supportive of the authorizations.\n"They are like the $20 fixes, which really do not serve the purpose," he said of the previous changes. \nHe said most of the proposed changes are behind the scenes and would not even be seen by the public. He also said the changes would go a long way in increasing the utility of the building and making it a permanent fixture in the community.\nCouncilman David Sabbagh, R-5th, had different concerns. He asked whether the renovations would lead to the rink being open year-round and whether it could be used and rented out for social events and parties. \nRenneisen answered that the rink already was being used for other purposes and the renovations would allow an increase in use.\n"It will grant people the assurance that the rink is here to stay and remove the present uncertainty of whether the rink will even open its doors next year," Renneisen said.