Thompson city council unanimously approved the purchase of a new ice resurfacer for the Thompson Regional Community Centre at its April 14 meeting.
The cost for the propane-powered machine quoted by Fer-Mac Equipment Ltd., the only supplier to respond to the city’s request for tenders, is $83,567.25 plus provincial sales tax and GST after a $28,000 credit for the trade-in of the existing ice resurfacer.
The city looked at the option of buying an electric-powered ice resurfacing machine but recreation director Carol Taylor said in a memo to council that the cost would be $60,000 to $80,000 higher, in part due to the necessity of installing a charging station. Electric ice resurfacers also require eight hours to fully recharge, which would not make it a good option for use during hockey tournaments.
Taylor also said that the basic ice resurfacer cost was well under budget, enabling the city to purchase additional options such as a tire wash to prevent gravel, sand and salt from outside getting into the arena and onto the ice, as well as an automatic auger, automatic snow break and an advanced water system.
The purchase of the new ice resurfacer was included in the 2020 capital budget with a maximum cost of $127,000.
The current ice resurfacing machine was purchased in 2011 at a cost of $88,500 after trade-in. Delivery of the new ice resurfacer will occur within 43 weeks from the date of the order.
“The city’s been having issues with its current Zamboni,” said city manager Anthony McInnis.
These issues included a breakdown just before the 2019 Munn Cup atom hockey tournament, when Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation came to the rescue by offering the use of its ice resurfacer.
That solution prompted RCMP to remind Northern Manitobans that it was not appropriate to dial 911 for hockey-related emergencies after someone from Nelson House called to ask where they could rent an ice resurfacer for an upcoming hockey tournament.
“We understand that in Canada, this could be an emergency to some,” read a Feb. 15, 2019 statement from the RCMP. “However this is not a valid reason to dial 911.”
