Under construction

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Construction is underway at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center, with the old floor being removed right now, said Brian Roehm, manager of the facility.

According to Roehm, Ruotsala Concrete donated $17,000 worth of labor to cut and remove the slabs.

From Sept. 9-26, volunteers are needed, because that is when rebar needs to be laid and mesh piping will be installed. On Sept. 27 the concrete of the new floor will be poured, a critical time for volunteer assistance, Roehm said. Cure time on the concrete is four weeks.

Ice will be made on Oct. 25. The new system will only take three to five days instead of 10-14 days like the old system.

Roehm started planning this project when he took the position of manager at the civic center three years ago, and is “very excited” to see it coming to fruition.

“It was to the point where we had to replace the floor or close the center, and voters voted three to one to support the project, which shows our community support,” Roehm said.

The total cost of the project is $438,802, with $275,000 coming from a bond, and the rest coming from the civic center’s general fund. Volunteer assistance could knock off up to $8,000 off of the cost, Roehm said.

The new floor will benefit the community because the ice will be available year round, Roehm said, so locals who travel as far as Minocqua, Wis., in the summer for ice time will be able to stay here and make use of the civic center.

The new system will cost much less to operate. The center could just about make building payments on the savings alone, Roehm said.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Roehm at the civic center at 932-0602.