by Jessica Harper
Thisweek Newspapers

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board approved reserving a portion of Twin Oaks Middle School's property for an 85-by-200 foot indoor ice arena, funded by the Prior Lake-Savage Hockey Association.

The land will be reserved for the ice arena for two years. By the end of the 24-month period, the hockey association must provide detailed plans and adequate funding for the project, which is estimated to cost between $5 million and $7 million.

At this time, the hockey association has set aside $100,000 for the facility, but needs to raise a total of $1.4 million to $2.2 million to make a down payment.

The association plans to obtain the remaining balance through fundraising and donations, said Jeff Peer, a member of the Prior Lake-Savage Hockey Association.

The School Board's decision to approve the proposal was applauded by about 50 residents and district staff who attended a public forum to discuss the issue at the board's meeting Nov. 20.

The board received one e-mail supporting the project, and one opposing the plan, in addition to the support shown at the public forum.

"If we have a hockey program, I think its about time we support those parents that are out there," Board Member Diane Ziemann said. "I think the hockey people have waited long enough."

It will be more convenient for Prior Lake-Savage students to play at an ice arena at Twin Oaks than at the Dakotah Sport and Fitness Center, said Mary Haugen, the Prior Lake High School activities director.

"We appreciate our partnership with Dakotah, but it's nice to have an ice rink in the center of our district," Haugen said.

If the Prior Lake-Savage Hockey Association can provide adequate funding and plans for the project within two years, and the board approves moving forward with construction of the arena, the association would set up an independent nonprofit business to lead construction and manage the facility until all incurred costs are paid.

Peer estimates that the debt would be paid in about 20 years. Once the association pays all debts incurred by the facility, the district would own the arena and it would assume all operational costs and revenue.

Board members praised the idea of a nonprofit running the arena.

"By having the enterprise taken on by a nonprofit, the partnership is comfortable for me," Board Member Susan Bruns said, adding that the association's original plan last year was unclear about management of the facility.

The nonprofit business would generate revenue and pay operating costs by selling tickets to games as well as renting the facility to members of the community and the district.

In addition to the ice rink, the facility would include a weightlifting room, volleyball and tennis courts, long jump and pole vaulting pits, or batting cages and pitch nets.

The indoor rink would additionally provide space for the district's gymnastic teams during the spring and summer months, Haugen said.

"We desperately need space for our spring sports, because we are currently using both Twin Oaks and Hidden Oaks gymnasiums," she said.

Although a portion of Twin Oaks' property will be dedicated toward the ice arena, there would still be room to build additions to the middle school if needed, Board Member Eric Pratt said.

Jessica Harper is at priorlake.thisweek@ecm-inc.com