The future of curling in Chase is a little more rock solid thanks to an arrangement giving the village ownership of the rink.
At the March 8 council meeting it was revealed the Village of Chase would be entering into an agreement with the Chase Curling Club for the acquisition of the rink facility on Wilson Street. The agreement would see the village take on the club’s debt of about $100,000 and, in turn, take ownership of the rink valued between $500,000 and $600,000.
Curling club board chair David Williams says the agreement was necessitated, in part, by the debt incurred from the installation of a new ice plant, as well as fluctuating club membership numbers.
“With the increased costs in hydro and those kinds of things, and our membership where it is, the club wasn’t viable to continue unless we got some assistance from the village or a partnership with the village,” explained Williams. “So that’s what we’ve been able to come to terms with. The village, I believe, feels that it was a worthwhile investment in the community to have the curling club open versus closed.”
Village of Chase administrator Joni Heinrich confirms this is the case, explaining council was concerned that if club did have to shut the rink down, it would never start up again.
Heinrich acknowledges the village and council have heard from some residents who disapprove of the capital expense, preferring the money be used elsewhere, but says council is looking at what will benefit the community as a whole for the long term.
“We know we are experiencing a little bit of growth residentially, not a lot because we’re small… and providing for a whole whack of different recreational facilities and opportunities is an important part of the diversity and strength of a community, so that’s where council was coming from on it,” said Heinrich.
Heinrich says the acquisition will have no taxation impact on this year’s budget. She said it was accommodated with the deferral of several items in the village’s five-year financial plan, including the purchase of a new highway rescue truck, communications equipment for the fire department and a volleyball court at Memorial Park.
The club and village are now in the process of working out a possible two-year lease agreement for the club’s use of the rink. Heinrich said arrangements might also be made for the club to put money away annually for future expenses.
She noted council is considering how the building might also be utilized as a multi-use facility, and that the district has access to grant opportunities the club doesn’t to do things such as upgrading the rink floor with concrete.
“That’s something we have been talking about for the last few years is, gee, wouldn’t it be great if that could be done because that would be incredible in terms of opening up more usages for that building,” said Heinrich.