NEW: Construction of new Watertown Ice Arena is officially a “go!” (Audio)
October 14, 2021
Mike Tanner
WATERTOWN, S.D.–Construction of a new two-sheet ice arena in Watertown is officially a “go.”
City Attorney Matt Roby tells KWAT News the deadline passed this week for citizens to refer the project to a public vote.
That means a sales tax revenue bond sale that’s capped at $20 million dollars can now be executed, and those funds will be used to build the arena.
The bonds will be paid off over a 30 year period–or perhaps sooner if sales tax collections allow for it.
Mayor Ried Holien says after many years and several mayoral administrations of talking about a new ice arena, he’s glad it’s going to finally get done….
At this point, no one has any idea what the finished product will look like, but the mayor says artist renderings should be released to the public in the weeks ahead….
Groundbreaking won’t occur until next spring, but construction materials will be ordered this month…
The ice arena will be built along Willow Creek Drive as part of what’s known as the Lakes at Willow Creek Development.
The two primary user groups of thew new arena–the Watertown Hockey Association and Watertown Figure Skate Club–announced in January they would offer a combined $2.75 million in cash and in-kind donations, and in February, First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard pledged one million dollars toward the project.
