Voters Opt Not To Throw "Good Money After Bad"

Posted on 11/30/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
The chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee says she's pleased with the outcome of the arena referendum. 4,265 people backed the plan for the Regional District of North Okanagan to borrow $13.25 million to add a second ice sheet at Kal Tire Place, while 3,331 said no, meaning it passed by a 56% margin. GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham says they had significant concerns -- if it would have failed. "The question would have still been there on how to do we supply the ice time that seems to be required in Vernon, so we would have had to go back to square one, I would imagine." Cunningham says the failing state of the Civic Arena was one reason it passed, but she says others --including some seniors -- recognized the importance of the project for ice user groups and the local economy. "In order to attract your families to Vernon, we have to look at these types of amenities." Cunningham says the failing state of the Civic was definitely a factor. "Part of it is people didn't want to throw good money after bad, just not knowing how feasible it was to pump any significant amount of money into an old shell like the Civic Arena," Cunningham tells Kiss FM. Design of the new rink will start soon, with the new facility targeted for completion in the fall of 2018. "The design phase should take nine to 12 months," says Cunningham. The building will be added to the north end of the current building, site of current parking, but city officials say the net loss of parking spaces will be just one, with new sites to be added at the south end of the site. The turnout for the vote was 7,596, or 16% of the more than 47,224 eligible.
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Info re SMITHERS Arena (2nd sheet) built in B.C.:
http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/newsletter_item/january-2015/smithers-new-arena-open-to-the-public/
http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/news/northern-development-approves-250000-for-smithers-new-arena/

http://terrace.myezrock.com/news/story.aspx?ID=2172735
The arena has been a hot topic for the town throughout the years, especially because of its hefty price tag which was budgeted to cost 4.7 million but ended totalling 4.8 million with all extra add-ons. "Well the biggest challenge of course for a facility this size is raising the money. They're not inexpensive to build," said Smithers mayor Taylor Bachrach. He insisted that its design was never meant to flashy, but instead functional. "It's a pretty modest facility in terms of arenas go. It's not fancy, it isn't a Cadillac arena. But I think it's going to serve the purpose which is to have another facility and to give the people even more opportunities to get out and skate," explained Bachrach.

http://www.smithers.ca/uploads/Report_ADM_13-039_%E2%80%9CNew_Arena_Building_Advisory_Committee_Recommendations.pdf