EGF outdoor rink supporters make funding pitch

Plans to construct an outdoor rink near the Blue Line Club Arena in East Grand Forks continues to take shape.

Donated dasher boards from the University of Denver have arrived in town – at an estimated value of $50,000 dollars. The Blue Line Club is asking the city to chip in $100,000 dollars to complete the $350,000 dollar project. The preferred option is to anchor the boards to a full concrete floor at a cost of nearly $268,000 dollars.

Council member Dale Helms says he’s concerned about the ongoing costs and the fact that the rink at Stauss Park would be closed in favor of the new facility.  “The thing I hear on the street is how many ice rinks do we need in East Grand Forks?  The other thing I hear is we will have 3 on the Point…none in the middle of town…and one on the north end.  How is that being equal?”

Mayor Steve Gander says he supports the plan.  “Very often when something is being driven by our people – it works.”

The city’s portion of the funding would be split between the city’s Altru Partnership Fund and building maintenance fund.

No action was taken at last night’s work session.

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