18-Janesville- Recomendations July 2010
Janesville Ice Skating Center
Recommendations
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Rink Management Services does not believe the construction of a new twin rink
facility will be sustainable from a financial perspective, and we do not think in the
existing economic and competitive environment there is sufficient demand for
utilization of a new additional sheet of ice to be successful.
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As part of our services, we will attend a meeting in Janesville for discussion of
the report and our findings. The meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2010.
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We would suggest a conference call with all or part of the group prior to the
public meeting.
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It will be helpful to hold an inclusive meeting of the user groups, rink customers,
community leaders and influencers, and appropriate town officials to discuss
growth of ice sports at the Janesville Ice Skating Center. The topics discussed
should be ice allocation, pricing, cost controls, dasher and sponsorship potential
and other ways to improve the experience.
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We recommend a two to ten year capital budget be established and prioritized.
Rink Management Services will assist in this as part of our review.
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We think the initial priority should be to get quotes on an inspection, overhaul,
and upgrading of the Zamboni machine.
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The refrigeration is nearing the end of its life expectancy. We suggest the City
plan to replace it in two to six years and to create specifications and contingency
plans in case of a catastrophic failure beforehand. Under normal circumstances,
it would take at least two months to remove and replace the refrigeration
equipment. The manufacturing time varies, but it can run 20 weeks.
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Prior to making a final decision to replace the refrigeration equipment, we
suggest a pressure test be completed on the flooring system to check for leaks.
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The roof should be checked for durability, condition, and upgrading. This could
be completed through an RFP process or getting estimates from established
roofing contractors.
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The City may want to have annual or semi-annual inspections from a qualified
vendor for the dehumidifying equipment and cooling tower.
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We recommend that key members of the staff receive training. The trade
association, STAR (Serving The American Rinks), has a number of relevant and
informative courses at various locations around the country. The website is
www.starrinks.com. The Ice Skating Institute also has an accredited training
program.
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Rink Management Services always recommends ice rinks keep timely,
contemporaneous, and accurate documentation of ice maintenance (resurfacing
logs, ice depths, Zamboni work) and equipment (fluid levels, temperatures, etc).
Record keeping log books are available from a number of sources, including
STAR and ISI. Rink Management Services can supply you with our standard
operating procedures.
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We would recommend improving the efficiency of the skate rental room.
Replacing the existing shelving with skate racks or taller shelves would create
more space.