Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (May 29/98) - The Dave Jones Arena, a building Inuvik Council has come close to tearing down for many years, may finally be put out of its misery.

After fielding a proposal from Arctic Tire to demolish the structure, Inuvik council decided to put the demolition out to tender until June 8 at 4:30 p.m., to be fair to everyone.

Council previously rejected a bid by Sam Kassem to demolish Inuvik's first indoor arena, built in the late 1960s with town and Canadian Armed Forces money.

Now, it is commonly referred to as the "eyesore on the hill."

Beth Deciembre, who works at the Inuvik Day Care across the street said the centre was falling down as normally happens when buildings are not used for years.

"The property would be more valuable with something else on it," she said.

Though Mayor George Roach said he hoped to get third party financing for what seems to be forever-impending demolition, Councillor Derek Lindsay urged council to wake up to the likelihood it will have to cough up some cash.

"If there is third party funding that's great," Lindsay said.

"Otherwise it's going to cost us money and we should realize that fact."

But Councillor Vince Sharpe said he supports council funding to cap the site and haul away ashes once the fire department burns the structure.

"We're not going to pay any money to tear it down," he said.

"We've got some extraordinary funds in a reserve account that we can use (for hauling ashes away.)"

One reason to demolish the arena is the high-temperature aspect of the utilidor system is being phased out and part of that utilidor system, which partially serves the Alder Drive area, runs through the arena.

With the arena unheated, utilidor lines could freeze up.

"It's outlived its usefulness and the property itself is of more value than the building," said Councillor Don Craik.

Craik said council originally looked for somebody to do the demolition for the salvage rights but when they first put it out for tender, they did not get anything close to what they wanted.