City Council briefs 10/13
As published in The Keene Sentinel.
Panel leans toward armoring dam
Keene residents had an opportunity to weigh in on the city's $721,400 plan to strengthen Robin Hood dam Thursday night.
Opposition to the latest plan for the dam -- to use specially designed concrete bricks to reinforce the outside of the dam -- was muted compared to the outcry that arose when officials proposed removing and replacing the dam at a public hearing almost one year ago.
But some residents were still not convinced that anything needs to be done to the dam at all.
"I want this city to spend less money fixing things that aren't broken," resident Connie Joyce told the members of the City Council's finance, organization and personnel committee.
But councilors and city officials assured Joyce they have done everything they could to make sure they aren't wasting money.
A consultant hired to offer a second opinion confirmed the state Dam Protection Bureau's assessment that the structure needs attention, City Manager John A. MacLean pointed out, leaving the city with little defense from liability if water were to burst through the dam and descend on people and property in downtown Keene.
The city owns the dam that creates Robin Hood Pond, and in 2008 the dam bureau sent a "letter of deficiency" detailing concerns that the dam's earthen structure would collapse if water flowed over its top, and the outlet pipe is not large enough to ensure that won't happen in a heavy storm.
The first plan, to replace the entire dam, would have required draining the pond and was met with vocal opposition.
The new proposal would leave the the dam in place but add concrete brick "armor" to the outside so water can flow safely over the top.
Robin Hood dam was one of five city dams deemed deficient, and the city is working on ways to resolve the concerns with the other dams.
The finance committee reaffirmed a previous motion to recommend the "armoring" plan to the full council, which will take up the matter for what may be the final time on Thursday, Oct. 20.
Indoor ice rink proposed for city property
An idea to bring a year-round ice rink to Keene city property got the nod from the City Council's finance committee Thursday.
A group of area residents operating under the name Keene Ice wants to install an indoor rink in the city-owned building at 350 Marlboro St.
The committee voted to recommend that the city manager negotiate to see if the city and the group can work together on the project.
The Cheshire Ice Arena is open only during winter months, and skaters have to travel to Massachusetts to hone their skills during the rest of the year.
The specifics of the arrangement between the organization and the city will have to be established through negotiations.
Councilors and officials were enthusiastic about the possibility of a city rink, suggesting there is a lot of unmet demand for ice time in the area.
"Quite frankly, if you build it, in this particular case, they most likely will come," City Manager John A. MacLean said.
The full council will vote on the proposal Oct. 20.
tagged with: ice skating, Keene City Hall, Robin Hood Park
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