WESTLOCK – Council approved a policy that provides guidelines for neighbourhood skating rinks created in Westlock County.
Administration had presented a draft of the policy during the county’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Jan. 14. The policy also aims to work with hamlets by collaborating with volunteers.
The Neighbourhood Ice Surface must be available to all residents and the general public at all times.
The exact site location of an ice surface in a greenspace is subject to the approval of the county and the volunteer group will be solely responsible for the construction, operation, maintenance, as well as the management or storage of any items .
Deputy Reeve Ray Marquette asked what kind of inspections.
“It’s just ice surfaces, right? What are we going to be inspecting?”
Adrienne Finnegan, community services coordinator for the county, said there will be a pre-site inspection with a community group or members to determine if their site selection is appropriate for them to put their surface. Another inspection will be done once they have the surface borders or berms up, the county will inspect before they flood the rink. In addition, there will be a post-season inspection to make sure there was no damage to the area where the ice surface was.
“They would be responsible for any clean up or any remediation that would have to be done to the lands,” said Finnegan.
Westlock County will assist with the application process, provide waivers and signs, serve as a contact for questions or concerns, and complete inspections.
All users of the neighbourhood ice surfaces must complete a liability waiver to the county.
There is no financial impact to the county at this time, said Finnegan in her report to council.
