Beach ice plant runneth ... for now

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By Jim Mosher
Sunday October 03, 2004

Interlake Spectator — WINNIPEG BEACH -- There are no guarantees that the aging ice plant at the municipal recreation centre will hold out for the season.
Larry Moore, who’s sat on the volunteer board of the Winnipeg Beach Municipal Recreation Centre for 24 years, says replacing the faltering ice plant would cost the financially-strapped rec centre more than $21,000.
But Moore told the rec centre’s annual general meeting Sept. 22 that recent repairs are expected to keep the plant up-and-running.
The plant’s two 50-hp compressors were built in 1984. Repairs ran to $3,020, while an upgrade cost another $2,400, Moore told the annual meeting. The firm contracted by the rec board said a new system would cost $21,888.

“We told them we don’t have $21,888,” said Moore. “Either you fix it it or we shut down.”
The board decided to pay for repairs and upgrade. “There might be a little less capacity,” Moore said. “However, we think it is operational. However. somewhere in the future, it’s going to be about $22,000 [to replace the existing system.] It’s a plant that’s been there for 20 years. They don’t last forever.”
Sonya Dodd, town councillor and council’s appointee on the rec board, was frustrated by the looming expense.
“So that this money that you spent, is there a guarantee on that or is this going to be a little Band-Aid?”
Moore said the board would have to “negotiate” with the person who did the repairs and upgrade, should the fix-up fail.
But: “If he says it’s working, it’s working,” said Moore. “If it’s still not working, he’d be back to fix it.”