Summer curling is returning to Northland Power Curling Centre and the city is moving ahead to purchase a new condenser for the facility.
The air condenser will equip the curling centre for its summer program, and will provide cooling up to outside temperatures of 35º C.
That is about nine degrees higher than the capability of the existing condenser.
This summer is the second year of August curling at the facility as host to the province’s high-performance centre. Twin Rivers Curling Club has committed to host the New Holland Prairieland Curling Camp slated for Aug. 7-10, an event sanctioned by Curl Sask.
The existing ice plant proved to be ill equipped to handle the first year of summer curling last August. City officials said they were aware of the limitations of the existing plant but hoped weather conditions would be cool enough for the plant to run.
Instead, above-normal conditions in August caused the plant to overheat. A stopgap solution was found by continually running water on the existing condenser to cool the plant, but that is not seen as viable for the long term as it could damage the mechanical system.
A decision has been made by council to get a new condenser with a higher heat release capacity, as quoted by J&J Air Conditioning.
The total cost is $99,720 plus taxes, licenses and permits. Twin Rivers Curling Club has agreed to partner with the city to pay $50,000 toward the project.
The city will also project-manage the installation and be on the hook for the rest of the costs. To pay its portion of the project, the city has begun the process of applying for federal Gas Tax funds.
Director of Finance Steve Brown said the application would be put in immediately. This project is eligible for funding on the basis that the new condenser would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is a more efficient system than the one in place previously.
Two resolutions were approved: one being for the city cost-share for the larger condenser and the second was to authorize administration to apply for the Gas Tax. Both have carried.
