Village taking on share in Kingston arena

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Kingston village commissioners will consider a new arrangement that could see the village share in the financial responsibility for the Kingston arena, currently managed by the West Kings Arena Association (WKAA).

At the Nov. 12 meeting of the Kingston Village Commission, Lorne Reid, Kingston’s recreation commissioner, who also serves as the village representative on the WKAA’s management board; delivered “a reality statement” and presented the option that would have the village become a “more active partner in maintaining this important community facility. “This represents an opportunity for the village to step up,” said Reid, adding the plan is for the village to take over management of the facility on the “100 non-ice days” outside the regular ice season, which runs for approximately 256 days. Reid said the WKAA, which has found it increasingly difficult to manage the facility under a considerable debt load and with a shrinking volunteer base, unanimously endorsed Reid’s proposal at a recent meeting. “They recognize that their operations will only become more challenging as the new twin pad arena project for Greenwood gains momentum.”

Reid said, under any memorandum of understanding (MOU), the WKAA would continue to operate and function independently until the new Greenwood ice arena becomes a reality. “The West Kings arena will eventually cease to exist, so we need to start taking baby steps to being prepared for that time,” said Reid, adding a new two-ice arena for Greenwood is now on a “when, not if” timetable.

No financial aspects of the agreement were introduced at the meeting, but Reid said any MOU would demand detailed information about business plans for the facility. Any funds designated towards the village’s share of operational expenses of the arena would come from the village’s recreation committee, which Reid estimates currently has $70,000 in a reserve fund. “There is no intention to draw from the regular village budget “This partnership will help the West Kings rink association, help the community keep its recreation facility and benefit the (Greenwood) twin pad project.”

Reid’s motion was supported by fellow commissioner Martha Armstrong and village chairman Tom Beardsley. The remaining two seats on the commission are currently vacant.