Apr 2010

A potential third ice surface for Portage la Prairie is a step closer to becoming reality.

Shane Moffatt, who has organized the city’s ice user groups to push city council to keep operating one half of the recently shut down Portage Centennial Arena, said he and fellow representatives met with City of Portage la Prairie representatives Wednesday.

The group has agreed to draw up another proposal for running the west rink in the arena and give it to the city in time for council’s May 10 regular meeting.

The group had drawn up a proposal for running the rink and presented it at a recent council meeting but, Moffatt said, some of the details of that proposal had to be ironed out, which resulted in the city requesting a new proposal.

If the group’s new proposal is accepted, Moffat said in an interview Thursday morning, the city might consider a one-year lease for the rink.

Because city representatives, including Mayor Ken Brennan, Coun. Dave Quinn and city manager Dale Lyle, said the city won’t spend any money to operate the rink, the onus is on the ice user groups to come up with funding for running the rink.

“We’re going to have to try and raise the money through the public,” Moffatt said.

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