North Battleford identifies three potential builders for proposed arena

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The funding arrangement outlined then would leave a $36-million local share. 

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In May, the city identified land beside the InnovationPlex Recreation and Cultural Centre as the preferred site for the proposed project, as the city moves ahead with a municipally owned model after regional ownership talks failed to reach consensus.

The city is planning a facility with two ice surfaces, but September’s report leaves room to build one initially if funding falls short, while preserving the ability to add a second later.

Administration recommends retaining Nustadia as the city’s owner’s representative for up to roughly $783,000. The company would protect the city’s interests through design, construction and preparation for opening, including monitoring costs, reviewing changes and checking contract requirements.

The report said the city lacks the specialized internal capacity to independently oversee every aspect of a recreation project of that scale. 

Mayor Kelli Hawtin noted that a funding condition appeared elsewhere in the recommendations but was missing from the proposed authorization to retain Nustadia. She asked that the wording be made clear.

“So I just wanted to clarify that we weren’t going ahead with that regardless,” she said.

Enns-Wind confirmed the appointment would be conditional.

“We really have to be prudent. The city’s already invested, and we’ve not seen anything tangible per se,” he said. 

The city has set aside $600,000 for a project manager or owner’s representative. Administration said additional funding for the role would be requested in the project’s final year.

The proposed oversight framework would allow a working group of senior city staff to approve individual project changes of up to $100,000. Cumulative approvals would be limited to two per cent of the approved project budget and would have to fit within approved contingency funding.

Larger changes, increases to the overall budget and material changes to the project’s scope would require council approval. 

The construction is anticipated to start in summer 2027, depending on government funding.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com