There will be no action on the ice surface at Sam Jacks Recreation Complex for this weekend at least and a decision beyond that will not be made until early next week.
An update to the initial post from this morning, the City of North Bay says the plan is to decommission and replace the chiller unit. The process is expected to take five days and the target to reopen the arena is Friday, according to Infrastructure and Operations engineer John Severino.
As minor hockey playoffs and a provincial ringette tournament loom, West Ferris Arena has been shut down as a precaution after a recent sampling of the brine solution contained in the chiller unit at the arena detected ammonia. Since that time, the City of North Bay says testing has been increased and the last sample analyzed had an increased level of ammonia in the brine solution used to maintain the ice surface’s temperature.
Councillor Johanne Brousseau, Chair of Community Services, advises “the City is working with our user groups to make accommodations to minimize inconveniences.”
The City advises: “In an abundance of caution, it has been decided that in the interests of the health and safety of our citizens and staff that the West Ferris Arena be shut down.
“Sampling and routine monitoring of the chiller unit has been in effect as well as consultations with the service contractor. Discussions with the equipment and service contractor and the City’s resources have been ongoing.”
The arena has been scheduled to be phased out of use several times in the past due to structural issues and limits on the amount of snow that can accumulate on parts of the roof are in place. Brousseau has said an extension to the useful life of the building will be sought as her committee sorts out the timeline for a proposed new arena project.
