TROY – The Knickerbacker Ice Rink’s ice-making facilities may be completely replaced for an estimated $1 million to make a long-term fix after years of neglected maintenance at the popular recreational facility, Mayor Patrick Madden said Thursday night.

The City Council will be asked to weigh repairing the existing equipment for $100,000 or go with an overhaul that would install a new sheet of ice in the arena by replacing the 28-year-old coolant system that failed in January.

“It’s a tough call,” Madden said about the situation the city finds itself in with the financial decision that has to be made.

The mayor said an early estimate is $1 million for the new system to make the ice surface. The price could vary depending on whether it's decided to make other upgrades to the rink built in 1990.

The City Council was prepared at its Finance Committee meeting Thursday night to approve spending $100,000 for repairs to install new compressors and related equipment to restore the ice-making capability. The administration, however, asked for the measure to be taken off the agenda until the council’s General Services Committee could meet to discuss the matter.

This upset Council Mark McGrath, whose 2nd District includes the ice rink, after a General Services Committee meeting was suggested for April.

“If you’re going to postpone it for another month, why don’t you say you want to close it?” McGrath said.

Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski told the council that the administration wanted to meet next week to discuss the ice rink with the goal of getting it on the council’s April 5 agenda. Kurzejeski said the administration is putting together an analysis of the costs of repairing a system at the end of its life expectancy compared to the price of a new installation.

Davis Mechanicals of Syracuse has been evaluating the problems with the rink’s coolant system during the last two months. The firm built the ice rink.

Councilman David Bissember, who chairs the General Services Committee, said he will call the committee meeting for next week.

“We need to look into it,” Bissember said.

Council President Carmlla Mantello said the council should be presented both short-term and long-term proposals for fixing the rink. She expressed concerns that the city could be facing another situation similar to the Knickerbacker Park and South Troy pools. Those two facilities were shut by the city due to the expense of repairing and replacing them.

With the situation at the ice rink, the city is in the position of losing its third major recreational facility in two years due to maintenance issues. The closure of the ice rink open comes at a time when the Realize Troy Draft Comprehensive Plan calls for strengthening the city's park system.

The ice rink is a revenue source for the city bringing in $275,000 to $300,000 annually in rental fees from hockey leagues and other skating programs. On its website the city lists a rental fee of $175 per hour.

The city will have to determine how to pay for a major overhaul of the ice rink. The $100,000 to make repairs would have come from the city’s reserves. Madden said the ordinance passed by the City Council to divide the costs of running the Recreation Department into four budget categories – administration; parks, pools and splash pools; ice rinks; and golf — is designed to give the city better information about the operation.