NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The city of Negaunee is one of several area communities with items on the May 5th ballot.
They are asking voters to approve a bond of up to $1.25 million on the May 5th ballot to fund major repairs and upgrades to their aging ice arena. The arena is roughly 40 years old, and key systems, especially the chiller or ice-making system, are failing and at the end of their life span, putting the facility at risk of shutting down.
“So we’re looking at trying to see if the people in Negaunee want to reinvest in this facility so we can get the chilling unit working properly, a unit that was never brand new when it was installed,” said Heffron.
The ask is .49 mils. What does that translate to the average homeowner?
“On the low end, we’re looking at folks paying roughly about $25 a year. And then more towards the high end, where most people fall, on average, they’ll be paying about $63 a year,” said Heffron.
The Negaunee Ice Arena is the home of youth hockey in Western Marquette County, including the Negaunee High School team.
“If you have any doubt about how many lives the Negaunee Ice Arena touches, look behind me at all the families for the junior hockey banquet held here every year,”
“It’s a great thing for the community, and you know the hockey program, just in general, it’s great to get the kids in here and give them something to do through the winter,” said Hockey Dad Scott Helminen
Aside from replacing the ailing chiller unit. Heffron says the funds would pay for improvements to the locker rooms, parking lot, and bathrooms, as well as installing ADA-compliant seating.
“The facility has been built by the community over 40 years ago, and this is a facility for the community, so the community has to make the decision on the future of this facility as well,” explained Heffron.
And so the fate of the Negaunee Ice Arena is now in the hands of the voters.
