The city parking lot near Hartley’s Mall will see a new feature.

During a regular meeting Monday evening at Rugby City Hall, the Rugby City Council approved a request from the Rugby Park Board to place a 52’x104′ ice skating rink, along with a warming house (a building the National Guard formerly used for storage), in the lot.

The park board plans to move the warming house to the site of the rink and leave it there year-round. In the spring the board will paint the building and do additional improvements.

The city and the park board will collaborate on setting up and taking down the rink. Both entities will also have insurance coverage for it, as the park board would cover activities it is part of and the city owns the lot.

The park board will be responsible for electrical in the area and signage.

The city would furnish the lot, snow fence, water, snow clearing and maintenance, and cops on duty patrolling the area.

Business owner and former councilman Terry Wentz issued concerns about street blading and snow removal, specifically where residents in Main Avenue apartments would park when those occur. Rugby Mayor Sue Steinke said the west end would still be available to use.

“A lot of people are wanting to try it,” said Ward 2 Councilman Dave Bednarz of the rink.

Armory rental rates approved

The council approved new rental rates for the Armory.

Rental rates of $25 per day for the south classroom and kitchen; $180 per day for the gymnasium without carpet tile set up on the floor; and $475 per day for the gymnasium with carpet tile (as determined by City Hall) were approved Monday evening. Depending on the event, a $100 dumpster fee may be put in place as determined by City Hall.

If the gym is used for two or three days, there will be a daily fee of $180 per each of those days, and $100 per day for each day after the third. There will be no discounts for partial days.

In the scenario where the use is for two or more days, one half-day would be used to set up for the event and another half-day would be used for removal of items. The half-days would be free of charge if there are no scheduled events the day before or after requested use or the rental period ends on a Saturday. (Sunday would be the day to remove items if the rental period ends on a Saturday. If items are left there on a Sunday, then it would be considered a rented day.)

Users would be required to clean the main armory floor and or the kitchen, if used, as well as the surrounding outdoor area used.

If City Hall determines carpet tile would be needed for the event, users would need to vacuum the tiles (with their own vacuums). Failure to do so would result in an additional $200 charge.

A city crew would place and pick up the carpet tiles. Ward 1 Councilman Bruce Allen Rheault asked how long it takes for the tiles to be placed. The city estimates it takes a five-person crew 90 minutes to set up the tiles and the same amount of time to remove them.

Other actions

– The council voted to table payment on a change order proposal for the water treatment plant.

– The council approved the second of two progressive estimates from B & J Excavating for work on the city’s raw water line project.

– The council approved gaming site authorization permits for the Rugby Amateur Hockey Association and the Farm Rescue Foundation. Also approved were charity or local permits for the Panther Boosters and the Society of St. Vincent DePaul.

– The council approved a motion to increase Department of Transportation overtime pay for police officers from $35 per hour to $40 per hour.

– The council approved meeting minutes from Sept. 20 and Oct. 1; bills and financials; Job Development Authority meeting minutes and financials; and the Municipal Judge’s report.