RM of De Salaberry holds public hearing on St Malo arena build

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This article was published 19/11/2024 (293 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The RM of De Salaberry held a public hearing on the proposed De Salaberry Recreation Facility build before it goes to council for approval.

“What we want to do naming it the De Salaberry Recreation Facility is we are anticipating the building being multi-use going forward. That’s council’s wish. This is a big building, it’s a big investment in our community and we just want to use it more often than just having it set as an arena and using it just in the winter time,” said Reeve Darrel Curé.

The reeve said during the meeting that a library could be built at the arena adding to the multi-functionality of the building, but added that is a future decision and not something that is part of any immediate plans.

“It would be ideal to use this building year-round for many different things for people to come and utilize it,” said Curé.

The arena will stay open during construction which will be done in phases. The first year of construction will see site drainage, exterior upgrades, mould and moisture work, and ice area upgrades. Years two to six will see the replacement of the ice plant and the tie-in of the north and west additions. In years seven to 11 the dressing rooms will receive upgrades and in the twelfth and later years there will be an expansion of the ice surface.

When all renovations are complete, it’s estimated that 10,000 square feet will be added to the building and will reduce its energy consumption by 75 percent.

The cost for the project has doubled since it was first announced in 2021 from roughly $4.7 million to $8.2 million today due to inflation. The debenture the RM is taking out on the arena is $4.2 million with a seven percent interest rate to be paid over 15 years at a repayment amount of $439,178 a year.

Money will also come from the Green and Inclusive Community Building grant of $3.1 million; Arts, Culture, and Sport Community grant of $700,000; and from the RM’s reserves ($400,000).

Money will also come from rate payers in the form of property taxes. “There will be increases. We’re anticipating a house that’s got an assessed value of $240,000 will see a tax levy of about $91 in the first year and at year six it’s going to be $183,” said Curé, noting that after the sixth year if property values go up, the levy will stay at a fixed rate of $183.

“If their assessment goes up, we are not following the assessment we’re just debenturing that $183 so that means that that will come down on their mill rate,” he said.

The cost to operate the new arena is not expected to go past the current cost of $158,800 a year, according to the RM.

The new build will extend the life of the arena by 50 years.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025.

-With files from Chris Gareau