A motion to rescind Bluewater council's vote from last August to permanently remove the ice from the Bayfield Arena at the end of this season was lost to a tie vote at Monday night's Bluewater council meeting.
Stanley Ward councillor George Irvin spoke against rescinding the motion, pointing out the decision to remove the ice was already made last August and was based on the feeling that the municipality couldn't afford three ice surfaces.
Irvin also maintains the Lakeshore ward provides 50% of the contribution towards the cost and there have been no phone calls from either of the two ward councillors to support continuing to fund it.
The municipality is in the process of hiring a consultant to conduct a feasibility study that will include an assessment of the need for ice in the Bayfield Arena. Irvin suggests if it's determined there should be ice in the arena, it can be put back in.
Several members of community groups asking the ice be kept in for one more year until the feasibility study is complete point out that putting the ice back in won't be much use if all of the people who might use it have been forced to find ice somewhere else for next year. They indicate that most people start booking ice in June and it's not likely the feasibility study will be done by then.
According to Irvin, "the decision was based on three previous reports from both facilities managers and our CAO and they said the municipality of Bluewater has three ice surfaces and we can't afford three."
