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SportsRecreationArena15TuesdayJuly162013CELEBRATEPARKSDAYFoodfunandeventsforeveryoneWoodBuffaloNationalParkpresentsTHE28THANNUALPINELAKEPICNICSundayJuly21st2013atPineLakeDayUseArea1230pmto400pmByRENEFRANCOEURTheThebachaChamberofCommerceinFortSmithisrequestingthattowncouncilactivelystartpursuingplanstobuildanewarenainthewakeoftheMay13rethatdam-agedthecurrentfacility.Thetownhasbeenengagingwithiceusergroupsaboutwhattodoforthecoming2013-2014iceseasonandformedtheIceSurfaceStrategyCommitteetochartacourseondecisionsforalternateicesurfacesthiswinter.ButtheChamberwantsthemtolookfurtherintothefuture.Repairstothearena-in-cludingxingtheglue-lam-inatedtrussbeamsandre-shinglingtheentireroof-havebeenroughlyestimatedtocostover1.6million.Councilstillhasnotheardfromtheinsurancecompanyhowmuchmoneywillbeavail-abletocoverthedamages.Whileweapplaudthees-tablishingoftheiceuserscom-mitteetomanageactivitiesforusergroupsweareverycon-cernedaboutthelackofdiscus-siononthefutureofthearenaitself.AsoneresidentsaidyoucannothaveonediscussioninisolationoftheotherCham-berpresidentJanieHobarttoldcouncilmemberslastTuesdayattheCommunityServicesStandingCommitteemeeting.ManyresidentsandbusinessownershaveexpressedtheirfeelingstotheChamberthatrepairingtheagingarenaisawasteofmoney.Thefundsfrominsuranceshouldgoto-wardsamuch-needednewfacilityHobartcontinued.Thearenaover45yearsoldhasnumerousdownfallswhichHobartlistedinclud-ingmanybuildingcodeis-suespoorandnonenergy-efcientlightingcrampedandbelow-pardressingroomsandwashroomfacilitiesaleakingrooflimitedspacewhenitcomestopublicgatheringsandstorageandunsafebleachers.Simplyputthecurrentarenadoesnotmeetusersneedsandlimitsthepotentialofoff-seasoneventsandFortSmithsportstourismoppor-tunitiesHobartsaid.Tousetheinsurancefund-ingtopatchupthearenawillmeanwejustendupwitha1976arenawithafewim-provementsandanewcoatofpaintshesaid.MeanwhiletheTownofFortSmithCommunityServicesMasterPlanalreadyincludesplansfortheconstructionofanewarenaoncethepoolde-bentureiswrappedupin2015.HobartsaidtheChamberwantstoseetheprocessforthatplanstartednow.Duetothelengthofthepro-cesswebelieveitsimperativetostarttheplanningnowsowearereadytomoveforwardwiththenewarenaimmedi-atelyfollowingtheretirementofthepooldebentureshestated.Whiletherehashaddireeffectsonourcommunitythereisasilverliningthatthefundsfromtheinsurancecanpotentiallyexpeditetheprocessofanewfacilitybyprovidingagoodnancialfoundationfortheconstruction.Thelong-termbenefitswouldbesubstantialshesaid.CouncillorDonWebbre-spondedtoHobartspresenta-tionremindinghertheyhavetolookatthewiderpicture.Thearenaisjustonepartofthepuzzle.Thelibraryisjustasold.Theanimalshelterisgettingupthere.Therehallis25yearsoldtoohesaidthoughnotinghedidntdis-agreewithher.ButthisagingfacilityhasbeendamagedwhichmovesitupthelistHobartanswered.CouncillorBobMcArthurmentionedcouncilhasbeenthinkingforthelongtermasisshownintheirdiscussionsaboutanewiceplant.Whenwetalkedaboutanewiceplantweagreeditwouldbeonethatyoucandisassembleandreassembleatthenewfacilityhesaid.CommitteechairKevinSmithsaidcouncilwillhope-fullyhavemoreinformationfromtheinsurancecompanywithinthecomingweeksandthentheywillbeabletobeginapublicengagementprocess.HobartsaidshehopesthetownwillfollowaprocesssimilartotheoneusedwhenplanningtheRecreationandCommunityCentrewheretherewasextensivecom-munityinput.InconclusionHobartcalledforplanningtobeginthiswin-terandthatonlyabsolutere-pairsbecompleteduntilthisdiscussionhasoccurred.Asonecouncillornotedthisisapoliticaldebateandweaskthattheresidentsbeincluded.ThebachaChamberofCommercecallsfornewarenaPhotoReneFrancoeurJanieHobartisthepresidentoftheThebachaChamberofCommerce.SherecentlymadeapresentationtoFortSmithtowncouncilrequestingtheimmediateplanningofanewarena.