Parks looks to keep Ice Arena open year round

Jefferson City residents may have more opportunity to ice skate starting in 2017.

At the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners discussed a staff recommendation to operate the Washington Park Ice Arena as a year-round facility. The ice arena currently operates July through April.

Though no action was needed Tuesday, as the final decision will be made during the annual budget discussions that begin in late spring and early summer, commissioners largely seemed in favor of the idea as staff reported operating year-round would actually operate as a cost-saving measure.

By operating year-round, staff would be able to increase revenues and cut down the costs of rebuilding the ice annually, instead moving to a system where the arena would be closed every three to five years for about three to four weeks to rebuild the ice.

The only slight drawback staff reported would be the need to find a new location to host the annual Circus Pages show that comes to Jefferson City in May, as the circus would be unable to use the facility.

In other business, the commission discussed potential revisions to its bylaws, which are expected to be approved next month. At the May meeting, the commission likely will continue discussion of starting two new committees, with one being a temporary, ad-hoc committee and the other a new standing committee.

Commissioners discussed possibly starting a new ad-hoc committee of former commissioners who would like to stay involved with the department’s planned Wellness Center on Lafayette Street as construction moves forward toward the projected January 2017 opening date. That committee stems from a request of Commissioner Darryl Winegar to stay involved with the project. He is ineligible for reappointment after his first term is up in May, as he no longer resides within city limits.

At a Council Committee on Administration meeting earlier this month, the committee approved a recommendation from Mayor Carrie Tergin to appoint Stu Murphy to Winegar’s seat on the commission. The full City Council likely will take up the recommendation next week.

Commission President Denise Chapel also discussed the possibility of starting a new standing committee on finances to ensure the commission has a full grasp of its financials.