A final draft report on the Bayfield Arena feasibility study was given to Bluewater Council last night.
The findings of the study were compiled by Monteith and Brown Planning Consultants, and its President, Todd Brown, says that based on the study, 5 options for the future of the Bayfield arena were given to council.
That included continuing to operate the arena and ice pad as is, or possibly an outside partnership.
"The second option would be through a third party, and that third party would be whoever the municipality found an agreement with. There happens to be an organization right now with a proposal, but we didn't speak to that because that would be their presentation to do."
That organization is B-FIT, and council moved to have a them come to council and present their proposal.
The other 3 options were to convert the ice pad to an indoor recreational floor for other sports or activities; convert the facility to a special events only facility; or to cease operation of the Bayfield facility altogether. Brown says that during the study period from 2015 to 2017, the community voiced the desire to keep the Bayfield facility and ice pad, and that had to be taken into account.
"I think that was how the municipality developed the terms of reference for us, is not to strictly focus on the needs of the community only, that we needed to take into account how the community feels, what they want, and simply getting beyond just the needs."
The study did determine that based on lower than average use for the ice in the 3 Bluewater arenas, the municipality really only needs 2 ice pads but has 3 in Bayfield, Zurich and Hensall, Bayfield's having been built in 1979 and potentially nearing end of life in 10-15 years. Brown says no matter what direction council goes, the facility will cost roughly a million dollars over the next ten to fifteen years to maintain and repair if the ice is kept. However, there is the possibility that cost could be less.
"Although that 1 million was identified in engineering reports the municipality had done, there are abilities to repair some electrical and mechanical equipment to last longer, so it may be that that cost can be reduced."
Brown notes that based on ice usage trends and population trends in the area, the ice will not likely see an uptick in use over that time span, but the Bayfield community did make it known they see the arena as an important community hub. The 3 Bluewater arenas lose roughly $500,000 a year in operating costs, but it was noted that isn't uncommon in small towns. Bayfield's rink loses roughly $110,000-$125,000 a year.
Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel says council looked over the 5 options and made some immediate decisions last night.
"We did edit 2 of the 5 recommendations. One was to keep the status quo, which council deemed was not appropriate, and same with the recommendation to just shut the building down."
Hessel says regarding the option to partner up with someone to maintain the ice, there is already a potential partner that may be waiting in the wings, as Todd Brown had mentioned in the report presentation.
"There are some councilors that are aware, including myself, of a presentation that was brought to the Bayfield community by the B-FIT program, and they presented a business case and we've asked that they consider presenting that to council, and then go from there."
In the study, it was noted several times that the community voiced a strong desire to keep the facility, with a demand for more varied indoor recreation activities. Mayor Tyler Hessel says the report suggested that might not be totally possible with the building as is.
"They did mention that the capacity for recreation of an indoor nature outside of the ice portion is limited, and there is a demand or a request from the public to look at other options. I think this is where that planning phase comes into place."
The report noted small trends in population growth, and an aging population in the area as part of the study. Hessel says a yet to be announced public meeting will be held soon so the community can come and see the results of the feasibility study, and voice their opinions on the options suggested.