‘Money pit’: Wichita Ice Center’s future questioned as it prepares to reopen one rink
The Wichita Ice Center will reopen to the public after three months of being closed because of lack of ice and ongoing equipment repairs.
A City Council member is pressing city staff to crunch the numbers to see if it makes financial sense to keep investing in the center, which is owned by the city and privately managed. The center has struggled for more than a year to keep ice on its rinks.
The facility this week finished installing ice on one of two rinks with a temporary chiller while its whole chilling center continues to be installed. Both rinks are expected to be fully functional in early 2024, a city news release said.
The center announced in July that the ice-making equipment had failed and needed to be replaced. The company that manages the facility, Rink Management Service Corp., originally said the rink would be up and running again by early August.
On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council voted to spend nearly half a million dollars on a new permanent and temporary chiller equipment.
“I am concerned that this continues to be a money pit,” Council Member Bryan Frye said. “The fact that we’re spending another $547,000 on the ice rink when I don’t know what the historical performance is of this facility or what is our projected business case going forward.”
The city contracted with RMS after ending a contract with Genesis Health Clubs in January 2022. The Steven-family run business had managed the facility for more than a decade but lost the contract after complaints accusing Genesis of allowing the facility become run down. The city blames Genesis for the ice-making equipment failures.
In a lawsuit, the city alleged the fitness company failed to maintain the facility and stopped reimbursing the city for a renovation after making one payment.
The city fronted Genesis up to $750,000 to remodel the second floor for the private health club and a bar.
In a counter lawsuit, Genesis blamed the city for lack of upkeep at the ice center.
The lawsuit said, “Genesis informed the city of problems at the ice center, including the ice making equipment, black mold, HVAC problems and others, but the city failed to properly maintain, repair or replace the equipment.”
Since July 2022, multiple equipment failures left one rink working until both rinks closed in July 2023. Repairs were ongoing and both rinks were expected to reopen by mid-September, according to a City Council meeting agenda.
However, testing in late August found ammonia in the brine used to cool the ice rink floors. Because of the health risks related to ammonia, the city hired a firm that specialized in ice rinks to address the problem, the city said.
Findings concluded that replacement of the chiller barrel was necessary. City staff recommended renting a temporary chiller unit and purchasing a new ammonia chiller barrel, the agenda said.
On Sep. 22, City Manager Robert Layton approved the chiller unit rental and the purchase of the ammonia chiller barrel replacement. On Tuesday, the council passed the recommendation 7-0.
“I have no issue with allocating the funds for this repair because it’s necessary,” Frye said. “But I would like to know what is the future for this facility.”
Frye asked city staff to prepare a “historical look back on the performance of the ice rink” and what the city has spent on it in the last 10 years.
“I think that Council Member Frye brings up a good point of a financial analysis would help benefit us I think moving forward,” Mayor Brandon Whipple said.
The cost of the rental unit is $108,634 for the first month, which includes installation and removal, and $46,200 per month thereafter, the agenda document showed.
“This will allow for the restoration of one ice rink, in mid-October” the city said.
The rink will be open 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday. Tickets will $12 or $7 if attendees bring their own skates.
Contributing: Chance Swaim of The Wichita Eagle