Luce County ponders future of local ice rink and clubhouse

By Sterling McGinn

The Luce County Board of Commissioners is reconsidering its lease of the Municipal Ice Rink, also known as “The Barn”, in Knierim Park.
The building is owned by the Village of Newberry, who commissioned its construction in the winter of 1938/39. The rink was managed by the village until operations were relinquished to Luce County.

The current contract, dated July 16, 2013, states, “All expenses regarding utilities, liability insurance, maintenance and operational expenses will be absorbed by Luce County and said County will be deemed liable for the operation and supervision of activities in the premises and surrounding area. The Village of Newberry will be solely responsible for providing fire insurance.”

Board chair Anthony Kitzman said that he felt the board should continue with the contract for another year and see how the year goes. The county is already insured for that purpose.

“The only issue we are looking at is that contract puts everything on us…any damages to that building…if that roof caves in, that’s us—if there is a fire, it’s on us,” Kitzman said.

Commissioner Tony Immel said that he didn’t think the county could insure, beyond liability coverage, a building they do not own. Immel feels it should be looked into.

After discussion the board voted to continue the contract between the two parties for 2026/2027 season.

“Our thoughts were to keep it this year now with the restructure of Parks and Rec.,” said Commissioner Angie Harris. “And after this year, if it doesn’t seem to be feasible, the community has this extra time to have an ice rink and see how things work.”

The board discussed a proposal from Luce County Parks and Recreation about developing a multi-season covered ice and roller rink on the grounds of the former Tahquamenon Sportsmen’s Club.

The property, located on Victory Way, is owned by the county. The roof of the former sportsmen’s club collapsed last winter.

Kitzman said the board first needs to figure out what to do with the old club building.

“I would like to take care of it and leave the base and plumbing intact because it has what we need for latrines, or if we want to make a concession stand,” he said.

The proposal calls for a 200’ x 85’ regulation-sized rink with a pavilion roof over it. The county already has the necessary rink boards and glass on hand, so the cost for rink construction would be lowered.

“This rink would be the size for adults all the way to kids,” said Parks and Recreation Director Sara Stephenson. “Right now, the ice rink cannot do that…you can’t have games for certain ages—it is not big enough.”

There was no board action taken on the matter that night.

In other news, Commissioner Harris told the board that the Luce County Ambulance Service Board has been postponing their scheduled meetings and she is concerned because that board is subject to the Open Meetings Act.

“I keep reaching out for meetings and there hasn’t been one scheduled again for this month,” Harris said.

Kitzman said the commissioners need to write to the ambulance board that they need to keep to their scheduled meetings.

“They are open meetings to the public and they can’t just reschedule them when it fits the members,” Kitzman said.

Finally, the board reappointed Anthony Kitzman to the Luce County Department of Veterans Affairs Committee and Karen Bontrager to the MDHHS Board.