There may be a future job opening or two at city hall. Experience driving a Zamboni is not necessary, but expertise wielding a hose and operating a plow would be beneficial.
City Coun. Tim Lauer received the backing of his colleagues at Monday night’s council committee meeting to have city staff look into contracting out the job of ensuring Orillia’s eight municipal rinks are open earlier and longer in future winters.
“Snow and cold is a problem in the City of Orillia, but, as they say, every problem presents an opportunity,” said Lauer. “I think one of the opportunities we have is to be known for outdoor rinks.”
While the city has a policy in place and a crew of workers charged with creating and maintaining the rinks at local parks and on Lake Couchiching, Lauer thinks it may be time to look beyond the city’s “limited resources.”
“I would think from a tourist point of view or promoting our city, it would be a good thing to have ice up and running as early as we possibly could,” said Lauer. “I think this year it got pretty cold pretty quick and we had lots of snow. I think we had an opportunity, if we would have had the manpower to do it, we could have had rinks for the Christmas holidays and I think anybody coming into town during that period would enjoy that experience. That’s what we’re supposed to be about.”
Lauer is asking staff to review the city’s current procedures and to look into the feasibility and estimated cost of contracting out “any of the services required to install and maintain the city’s outdoor rinks that would aid in expediting their opening.”
Lauer’s request has to be ratified by city council Monday night. If that occurs, staff from the city’s parks, recreation and culture department would prepare a report for a future council meeting.
