HUMBOLDT — Humboldt council has approved a new reusable ice mesh system for the Elgar Petersen Arena for this hockey season.
Michael Ulriksen, community and leisure services director said, “We’d be one of the first to install this new ice mesh system instead of painting the ice annually in Saskatchewan.”
In Ulriksen’s report to council, he said, “This will significantly reduce staffing time, as cleaning the logos and then cleaning up the paint residue from the boards and the ice was extremely labour-intensive. With the white ice mesh, the process will be much quicker and require far fewer staffing hours.”
Another benefit discussed by council and administration is the reduction in utility costs associated with the refrigeration system. Ulriksen said the thinner ice would require less power to keep frozen. The current layer of painted white ice also creates an insulated layer that requires the refrigeration system to work harder to draw heat through.
The life expectancy of the mesh is about 20 years. The city is currently spending roughly $1,500 annually just to purchase the white ice paint. Ulriksen’s report said, “While the initial investment may seem substantial, the reusable ice mesh is designed to last for multiple seasons, significantly reducing the recurring costs associated with purchasing paint and the labour needed to apply and maintain the painted ice.”
Ulriksen believes the transition will see a payback in as little as four to seven years. Administration will look to fund the purchase through operational savings in 2025 or from reserves. The purchase is expected to provide the city with significant savings on materials, utilities and labour moving forward.
