The Nelson Curling Club will receive up to $30,000 in emergency funding from the city to repair its ice plant.
The club was forced to shut down after an ammonia leak was discovered during an examination of the plant in February.
City councillors considered a request for $20,000 from the club Monday evening before agreeing with councillor Cal Renwick to increase the amount.
Curling club president Gordon Weiss said the contribution should help ensure curling will return for the start of the season in October. “That’s our No. 1 priority, so we’re pretty happy about that,” he said.
Weiss said the ice plant’s repairs along with required upgrades to the room it is in will cost an estimated $70,000. The club has asked for assistance from the Regional District of Central Kootenay, and hopes to apply for a Columbia Basin Trust grant.
Weiss added the club has also already raised $30,000 for the project.
The club’s building at 302 Cedar St. was built in 1973 and has been owned by the city since 1994.
Councillor Keith Page said it was important for the city to do its part. “They need a little bit more wiggle room to make sure they can complete the project and not scramble for the last $5,000 or something,” said Page.
Council also passed a motion by Page that will see a task force gathered to review the club’s building as well as the recreation complex.
Page said there are housing and social needs in Nelson that could be addressed by development in the city’s recreation complex.
“In a market like this that is at zero vacancy rate, we thought it is prudent to form a task force of experts to let us know what other opportunities exist aside from the ones that are just hand delivering themselves to us,” said Page.
tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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