Re: Skating

["Keith Howe" <kkhowe@moscow.com>]

Well, I'll begin by pointing out that I'm in no way officially associated
with the efforts to get an ice rink into Moscow. I don't attend their
meetings or talk with those more directly involved very often. Mainly, as a
member of the UI Ice Hockey club, I'm just trying to keep tabs on what they
are doing and generate public interest and support for the idea. So, if
anything I say in relation to their goals to get a rink built turns out to
be untrue, hold it against me alone :)

I wanted to point out that the skating rink is of a different nature than
the skate park. The skate park is intended as a free, public use facility.
Generally an ice rink, however the startup is funded, is a facility that
will earn income to help pay for itself. Maintenance and upkeep are usually
expected to be part of the operating costs recouped by fees for teams and
organizations who play there. I don't know anything about the proposed
budgetting arangements for an ice rink in the Moscow/Pullman area; I just
wanted to make it clear that in general, even rinks started with public
capital are traditionally facilities run as a business and expected to make
ends meet -- not as a public facility using parks & rec. money for
maintenance.

In addition, I think many Muscovites have been somewhat affected by the huge
cost for the new swimming pool -- if a facility doesn't cost several
million, how can it be any good? But the startup costs the rink association
are quoting are not underestimations for a decent rink facility. True, you
might only get corrugated tin walls to start with, but it's easy to build
better facilities when the demand calls for it (and the money is available),
and most community ice rinks start out simple and small. The expensive, and
most important part of any new ice rink are the boards and the ice making
equipment. I can understand the concerns about the second-hand nature of
this equipment, and I don't know any of the details to be able to alleviate
them. However, it is a great opportunity to get affordable equipment, and I
think it would be a shame to miss it if the equipment proves to be in good
shape.

Anyway, I encourage all of you with an opinion, one way or another, to keep
track of the city's decisions and make yourself heard. As much as I want the
rink to be built, I certainly don't want it to be looked upon as one more of
the things the city has decided without much public input or approval. As I
mentioned before, letters of support for the rink, either from organizations
or individuals, can be sent to Steve Bush at moscowtitle@turbonet.com.

    - Keith Howe

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Roskovich" <donell@moscow.com>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 11:42 PM
Subject: Skating


> I am in total agreement with Lois Melina.  The kids have worked very hard
> for their skatepark and their efforts need to be recognized.  We need to
> have the bids in and the work started as soon as possible this spring.
The
> kids should not have to wait another summer for their park.  Then, when
the
> skatepark is a reality, maybe then the Palouse Ice Rink Association can
> organize their car washes, bake sales and spaghetti feeds for fund
raising.
>
> Before the City rushes in to spend $150,000. for a chiller and a
Zamboni,it
> should be investigated as to whether spare parts are readily available for
> any repairs that might come up on this used equipment. Is there a log that
> would give a history of maintenance and repairs already made by the Ice
> Arena in Coeur d'Alene?
>
> $90,000 to $200,000 seems like an unrealistic amount for a building that
> could be utilized for lessons, competitions, hockey games and public use.
>
>
>