The Sundre Arena will have a new lightly used Zamboni ice resurfacing machine for the upcoming 2017-18 season.
Following a detailed presentation outlining numerous options during a special meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 9, council approved administration's recommendation to purchase the unit as well as some backup blades for the machine for a cost not to exceed $65,000. The two-pronged motion also included an additional $15,000 expense to install air intake and exhaust fans, with the funds being allocated from a reserve specifically set aside for a new ice resurfacer.
Elected officials had previously directed staff after a special meeting in July, when a previous recommendation for an Olympia unit was voted down, to further investigate other possibilities.
Although town staff have historically used Olympia machines, further research yielded an attractive and available 2013 Zamboni unit with shy of 1,000 hours clocked, said Ian James, community services manager.
"In the arena business, there's two specific brands ó the Zambonis, which is the king of the industry, and then Olympias," which are a close second, he told council.
Throughout an average ice season in Sundre that generally lasts about six months, the municipality's Olympia ice resurfacer runs roughly 250 hours, and the recommended lifespan before replacing the engine is about 5,000 hours or more. So administration purposely sought to find a used model that could still, based on the current level of usage, last for another 15-20 years, he said.
"Originally, when we were looking at ice resurfacing machines, we were tunnel vision on specifically Olympias."
Since the Zamboni head office is located in Edmonton, administration was concerned about how the machine would be serviced in the event of a breakdown. But in pursuing discussions with the dealer, James told council administration was ensured emergency servicing would be available and that the proposed unit is "in ideal condition. It has all the bells and whistles. It'll be state of the art. The machine is a steal at that price."
And even in the event of a worst-case scenario in which the Zamboni might not be repaired until the following day, the existing Olympia machine could be used, he said.
"So we'd be in a better situation than where we are even now, where if our machine broke down, we'd have to wait" for the Olympia to be serviced, he said, later adding the training required to introduce staff to the Zamboni would be minimal.
Regarding the arena's proposed fresh air exchange system, administration also looked into other potential options that could work for the facility, which currently does not meet codes, he said.
"Our arena has too many gaps and open areas. In order for dehumidification units to be effective, we'd have to seal the building," he said, adding that course of action was therefore not recommended. However, a fresh air intake exhaust system was identified through consultations with engineers as a possible solution.
"They believe that would also help our humidity problem, as well as take care of our immediate needs for ensuring that we meet the health and safety code."
So James said administration recommended moving forward with the $65,000 purchase of the 2013 Zamboni, since the machine only has 994 running hours and would therefore last for upwards of another 18-20 years at the current level of usage, and also asked council to approve the installation of the intake exhaust fresh air system not to exceed $15,000.
Mayor Terry Leslie said the municipality has never kept a backup ice resurfacing machine before and inquired about the possibility of selling the Olympia that will be replaced and to allocate those funds back in the reserve.
However, at its amount of past usage, only $2,500 was offered during administration's discussions with potential buyers, answered James.
"The machine is so old that no one's really purchasing that at that age," he said.
Coun. Cheri Funke wanted to know whether storage for the Olympia was available, to which James replied the machine will be stored near the arena at the Community Services Building.
"In keeping the unit, we're not going to have it there and sit for three months. Once a week, we'll put it onto the ice and keep it running so that it doesn't seize up," he said.
Coun. Chris Vardas expressed interest in putting the outgoing Olympia to use on an outdoor rink, which administration noted.
Coun. Nolan Blatchford said the Zamboni "is a no-brainer", but questioned if the new air exchange unit would allow, weather permitting, the ice to go in earlier.
"I really looked seriously hard at trying to do that," said James.
"Unless we sealed up the building, it would be very difficult to put it in any earlier. It would be more of a crapshoot. If the weather is extremely hot outside, the hot air is going to come inside and really create a problem for quality of ice."
Coun. Paul Isaac pointed out that some 15 years ago, the ice at the Sundre Arena was prepared mid to late September.
"I don't know if our insulation has gotten worse, or if our holes in our building have gotten worse," he said.
"It would be kind of nice to know why we could do it then, and why we can't do it now. Just because it answers a lot of questions to a lot of people in town that I can't answer."
Additionally, the councillor expressed concern about spending funds on the building, which requires some work, only to find out in a few months even more must be spent.
"In regards to the fresh air intake exhaust, that is occupational health and safety. That's not a wish for us, that's something that we're in breach of. So that needs to be addressed right away," said James, adding the point about the ice being prepared in September in the past was duly noted.
"Being new to Sundre, it's been told to me that we always put it in October," he said, adding he would look into that further.
Coun. Myron Thompson moved administration's recommended action to approve the purchase of the 2013 Zamboni as well as to install the fresh air exchange system, which carried, with Isaac opposed.
