EGF wrestling with ice arena improvements

East Grand Forks may look to bonding to secure money for short term repairs to the city’s aging ice arenas. The move is due in part to the phasing out of R-22 refrigerant in favor of a more environmentally friendly system.

Bonding is on the table because the legislature failed to take up the city’s request for a potential sales tax to fund facility upgrades.

Park Superintendent Reid Huttunen says if bonds are used it’s doubtful the city would be reimbursed if and when a sales tax is approved.

Mayor Steve Gander says waiting for the legislature to act could prove costly.  “It’s an inflationary time.  Right now R-22 is in an intermediate status but when it starts to get shut down more there will be a rush to do these projects and it will be hard to line people up to do the work.”

The council is looking at using money from the city’s pool of American Rescue Plan Act dollars to pay for parking lot improvements this fall. The initial estimate puts the bill at upwards of $135,000 dollars.

More discussion about bonding is expected at a future council meeting.