The original Northern Lights Palace scoreboard in Melfort will be in place for another hockey season. (File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Council update

Northern Lights Palace scoreboard arrives, but installation won’t happen until next summer

Sep 10, 2024 | 12:01 PM

A good news, bad news story out of Melfort’s council meeting Monday night.

In the Community Services Monthly Department Report, Director Rob Lok told council that the new scoreboard for the Northern Lights Palace has been delivered, but the installation will have to wait until next summer.

“We ordered the scoreclock this spring, but by the time it was delivered it was delivered a bit late, the ice was already in the arena, and we already had arena users skating,” Lok told northeastNOW. “So it was really challenging for us to create a timeline large enough for us to confidently get the score clock installed.”

According to Lok, there just wasn’t enough time to be able to install and have a buffer in the event of any unforeseen circumstances. The current scoreboard is the original one installed at the Northern Lights Palace, which opened in 1991. Lok said finding replacement parts is virtually impossible for the obsolete clock, and they have had to purchase replacement bulbs from local auto dealer stores that don’t have the same clarity.

“Even using these substitute bulbs, they burn out quite (quickly). The score clock is lowered after every Mustangs game and any bulbs that are burned out are replaced.”

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Despite the SJHL going on a Christmas break, Lok said it’s just not feasible to change the scoreboard during that time.

“It would really put the onus on staff to…be working during those holidays, as well as being able to find tradespeople who would also be willing to work during the holidays,” explained Lok. “We think the best time to install that scoreclock would be next summer when the ice is out and we can properly get the tradespeople out there to help us with this.”

Lok said the city crews would need professional help with the rigging of the scoreboard and qualified electricians that are able to get the scoreboard to work and to have it sync well with the booth and the goal lights.

Council also debated whether to sign a letter supporting the efforts of two police unions and a significant number of municipalities to get the province to provide more information on the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS). The letter also asks the province to halt any further investment in the SMS and instead prioritize the funding of existing police services.

Councillor Doug Terry’s opinion at the meeting was that it was too soon for the City of Melfort to support the letter, as not enough is known about the SMS. Councillor Tara Muntain also recommended not signing the letter, as she was concerned about the wording to halt the Marshals service.

Councillor Tim Hoenmans supported signing the letter, saying the province hasn’t released any information on the service. He agreed that the SMS should be paused until municipalities hare more input into the service or at least more knowledge as to what its ultimate mandate will be. He said there has been no feedback more than a year after the initial announcement of the SMS. Councillor Brian Enge also sided with Hoenmans in supporting the letter.

Mayor Glenn George suggested the city hold off until the next council meeting to decide, and the file was turned over to administration to see if they could get more information from the provincial government prior to the October council meeting.

Council also approved providing a one-time payment of $7,500 to the Melfort Museum to go toward their new security system.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK