Privatization plans for ice rink prompt hiring of engineering firm in Hamburg
Consultant will look at cost-effectiveness
The Hamburg Town Board hired an engineering consultant Monday to evaluate proposals for the privatization of its Nike Base ice rink, as a referendum on the issue approaches next month.
The board accepted the proposal of engineering firm Nussbaumer & Clarke of Lake Shore Road.
“They’ll double-check to see if what is proposed is accurate as far as costs,” Councilman Thomas J. Quatroche Jr. said.
A private partnership has proposed leasing the town rink and building a twin rink and sports complex at a cost of about $10 million.
The board will also seek an estimate of what it would cost the town to undertake the project itself, Supervisor Steven J. Walters said. That estimate is expected to be complete before the referendum on the proposal April 28.
Nussbaumer & Clarke will evaluate both the town estimate and the private proposal at an hourly rate of between $46 and $143.
The board also announced voting information for the townwide referendum. Voters registered as of April 5 will be eligible to vote from 7 a. m. to 9 p. m. at one of four polling places, depending on their voting district.
The polling places are: Woodlawn Fire Hall, 3281 Lake Shore Road; Lake Shore Fire Hall, 4591 Lake Shore Road; Lake View Fire Station No. 1, 2005 Lake View Road; and Town Hall, 6100 South Park Ave.
Board members also held a public hearing on whether to rezone a five-acre lot on Jeffrey Boulevard to parks-recreation, from light industrial, to accommodate the proposed visitors center at the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center.
The fossil-collection site itself is already zoned for park use; the rezoning would apply to land purchased for the planned visitors center.
One neighboring business spoke against the idea, saying that park use would conflict with light industrial use nearby on Jeffrey.
The board withheld acting on the proposed zoning change until a later meeting.
Jerold C. Bastedo, executive director of the center, said fundraising is under way for the planned $1.8 million center.
In other action, the board:
• Awarded a $593,750 contract for water line replacement to J. D. Northrup Construction of Ellicottville. The bid on the work, to replace about 7,000 feet of water line, came in about $150,000 lower than projected, Walters said.
• Set a public hearing for 7 p. m. April 27 on proposed changes to the town code regarding public mini-storage businesses.
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