North Huron's decision to put ice in at the Wescast Community Complex last August for a hockey school has cost taxpayers an unexpected $10,500.
Director of Recreation Vicky Luttenberger explained the situation to council this week after another request was received to put ice in at the end of the 2019 summer.
Luttenberger said the complex opened in the last full week of August for a hockey school, which required ice-making equipment to be turned on two weeks prior. During this time, Luttenberger said the machine operated "at full capacity for 24 hours per day" trying to keep the ice cold enough to meet the needs of the school.
An unexpected $5,500 for hydro and $5,000 for equipment repairs was incurred at the facility. The fee that the hockey school paid to North Huron did not match the expenses.
After the hockey school wrapped up, staff did not receive any other bookings for the Labour Day long weekend, something she called "unfortunate".
Luttenberger recommended North Huron go back to the original plan for opening up the ice for the first full week of September in 2019.
