By Adam Ophus

$300,000 overrun

Curling rink upgrades well over budget

May 22, 2019 | 10:19 AM

Renovations to the curling facilities at the Christenson Sports and Wellness Centre are over budget, and the Town and County are now looking at how to pay for it.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House along with Clearwater County are funding a Town-managed upgrade of the Christenson Sports and Wellness Centre.

$3 million was allocated for improvements to the curling facilities with the Rocky Curling Club committed to paying for half and the Town and County the remaining half.

However, the curling upgrades are now $337,810 over budget, according to a recent report to Clearwater County Council.

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“We are willing to discuss a different arrangement for the additional $300k that is now come forward for the curling rink renovations,” says Reeve Jim Duncan.

“We conveyed to the Town we would entertain sharing the costs either via the existing model or splitting them equally with the town,” says Reeve Duncan “We will discuss this with them more in the future.”

The curling facilities include the ice, a lobby, dressing room, and washrooms on the lower level and the lounge, washrooms and kitchen that services the entire facility on the upper level.

The Rocky Curling Club did not have the funds to pay for their portion up front, so the Town of Rocky Mountain House agreed to front their portion through a loan. To date, the Rocky Curling Club has made all of its scheduled payments with $648,000 still outstanding on the loan.

Meantime, a $13 million upgrade project for the skating rink facilities at the Christenson Sports and Wellness Centre is said to be under budget at this time.