Port Alice arena will open
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Updated: September 11, 2009 10:47 AM
Kristen Douglas
Gazette staff
PORT ALICE — The Port Alice Arena will open this season but run on a reduced schedule.
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, council voted to open the arena on a maximum five-day schedule based on Neucel’s confidence that the mill will be able to pay its property taxes in full by the end of the year.
After Neucel was unable to pay its full taxes by the July 31 deadline, the Village was not in a position to be able to open the arena due to high start-up costs.
According to a report by the Chief Administrative Officer Gail Lind, normal start-up costs for the arena are approximately $60,000. CEO for Neucel Bob Taylor said Neucel could not afford that but did indicate that Neucel could afford a lesser amount, approximately $30,000 to assist with the arena start up.
But in the event that Neucel does not pay their taxes by the end of the year, the arena could be shut down immediately to avoid any financial risk.
The arena is currently projected to open October 13, right after Thanksgiving.
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