Civic center nearing completion

IRONWOOD — A strong epoxy smell will prevent people from performing other work at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center for the duration of ice rink floor painting.

In her report to the Civic Center board on Wednesday, manager Michelle Rigoni-Sivula said a company specializing in painting rink floors has completed the initial three coats. There is some paint separation in a few areas that will need to be redone prior to the painting of the lines and circles of the hockey rink.

“It has to cure for a week,” she said.

The goal is to be completed for a grand opening sometime in October, Rigoni-Sivula said. Once the painting is completed and allowed time to dry, the rink can be flooded for ice and the first winter season of the new rink can begin.

The remaining work to complete prior to the grand opening includes fixing some lights in one locker room and a hallway, she said. Another goal is to sandblast, repaint and reinstall the original rink nets prior to the winter season.

Tentative grand opening plans include a ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremony with a bugler and Junior ROTC cadets from Luther L Wright High School. The afternoon activities will include free open skating.

Two separate half-hour “Learn to Skate” sessions will be held with coaches from the Ice Crystals Figure Skating Club, followed by a half-hour with coaches from the Polar Bear Hockey program. An hour of open hockey will follow.

An alumni hockey game is being planned for 7 p.m. the night of the grand opening. The board will determine the length of the game and periods at the meeting when the number of players registered and their ages are known.

The board 7-0 approved a $50,206 payment to Rink Systems Inc. The final payment follows completion of work to install refurbished dasher boards, player boxes, and plexiglass and caps around the rink.

The board 7-0 approved setting the hourly ice fee at $150. The increase from $125 is consistent with area ice rinks and, according to board member Jim Collins, is appropriate given the increased facility costs to maintain the ice.

“We went from one furnace to two,” Collins said. “We went from one hot water heater to three.”

The hourly rate is considered a 50-minute skating time and a 10-minute ice resurfacing time. The hourly rate does not affect the contractual agreements with figure skating and hockey clubs. 

“Raising it to that level won’t discourage rentals,” said Jim Mildren, city commissioner and civic center board member.

Board member Mae Moderson said an outside party contacted George McNulty, president of Gogebic Community College, regarding the potential for the school to compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The new civic center on GCC property, the availability of morning ice time for practices given the rink’s proximity to the school, and the number of nearby regional teams to play make it a viable option, she said. 

“We have to look at some things to keep this place going,” Moderson said of working to realize the facility’s full potential.

Non-scholarship players who haven’t made teams at larger schools will gladly play for a two-year college with the goal of being recruited to a larger program or club level team.

“It’s a stepping stone to larger schools,” Moderson said.

Board president Jerry Gullan said he would include the topic in his meeting with McNulty. The meeting will also cover using the civic center for baseball and softball athlete spring training and other opportunities with GCC once the rink is operational.

Rigoni-Sivula said she is continuing to request quotes for emergency snow removal. The roof is rated at 70 pounds per square inch, but the city of Ironwood is requiring the civic center to establish an emergency snow removal plan.

The orders for a steam table, “markless” hockey pucks to prevent scuffing of dasher boards and plexiglass have arrived, she said. The security cameras are installed and working, she said.

The next Civic Center board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 4 at the civic center.