Request-ImOn Arena Used Generator Equipment PurchaseCity of Dubuque
City Council
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Copyrighted
October 6, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Request-ImOn Arena Used Generator Equipment Purchase
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval to
purchase a used 1.5 megawatt (MW) generator for the ImOn
Arena, disconnection, moving, and reinstallation of the
generator for a total of $225,000.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo
Page 718 of 1264
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Request-ImOn Arena Used Generator Equipment Purchase
DATE: October 2, 2025
Dubuque
All -America City
'I I'
�N
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Kalcevich is recommending City Council
approval to purchase a used 1.5 megawatt (MW) generator for the ImOn Arena,
disconnection, moving, and reinstallation of the generator for a total of $225,000.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Matthew Kalcevich, Parks and Recreation Director
Marie Ware, Acting Project and Facilities Manager
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Jared Charland, Project and Facilities Manager
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Tony Breitbach, Purchasing/Risk Manager
Anthony Williams, President and CEO Q Casino and Resort
Page 719 of 1264
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Matthew K. Kalcevich, Parks and Recreation Director
SUBJECT: Request-ImOn Arena Used Generator Equipment Purchase
DATE: October 1, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
MI-Amedea City
tllll®r
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memo is to request funding from the FY 26 Budget Amendment #1
for the purchase of a used 1.5 megawatt (MW) generator for ImOn Arena,
disconnection, moving, and reinstallation.
BACKGROUND
The City Council in the FY23 budget approved funding in the amount of $4,600,000 for
settling remediation, dehumidification and air conditioning improvements, and a
generator for the ice arena. The first project to be completed was the settlement
remediation project. The dehumidification project is currently ongoing at this time.
The City was initially planning to include and develop a larger scale project for the
design and installation of a new dehumidification system, a new air conditioning HVAC
and emergency generator system. However, due to higher cost projections that
exceeded available budgeted funding, the scope of improvements was reduced.
As part of the initial feasibility study, the City's consultant evaluated the addition of new
air conditioning equipment to provide conditioned air for the arena to support dry floor
events during summer months. To support the dehumidification system, the
recommendation was to add four (4) 50-ton air conditioning roof top units. The full arena
air conditioning project was estimated at $3,900,000 The air conditioning project was
based upon discussions about the potential to host dry floor events in the arena in the
off season (mostly summer) to increase financial viability of the arena and activities of
the island.
As part of the feasibility study, the City's consultant also evaluated the energy loads of
the ice arena facility to determine capacity requirements for an emergency generator
system. Based on the operations of the ice arena, Nelson-Rudie recommended the
following two (2) generator system options for consideration.
1
Page 720 of 1264
Options
Cost Estimate
Full Building Generator (1 Megawatt)
$ 760,000
Critical Systems ONLY Generator (500 KW)
$ 549,000
Based on updated cost estimates and current available funding for the Ice Arena
improvements, there was insufficient funding available to add the air conditioning HVAC
improvements or the emergency generator system as part of the original contemplated
dehumidification project.
Staff prioritized improvements to the arena include only the dehumidification system as
a Phase 1 project and further proposed the air conditioning HVAC and emergency
generator system could be budgeted in a future fiscal year or include with a future
potential 2nd ice sheet.
The City received bids in February 2025 for the Phase 1 - Ice Arena Dehumidification
System Upgrade Project. Giese Sheet Metal Co, Inc. was awarded the improvement
contract in the amount of $308,950.00. The bid award cost for the ImOn Ice Arena
Dehumidification System Upgrade Project from project number is 2849900004 with a
total project cost of $521,750.00 which included construction (the contract award of
$308,950), contingency, consultant services for design and construction as well as city
staff services.
A change order was approved to strengthen the roof to be ready for the installation of
AC rooftop units in the future. This change order was to limit disruptions to the lounge
and Saints office areas once versus having another major disruption potentially in the
future. The change order addition was in the amount of $110,000. The entire lower roof
is being reconstructed and reinforced to support the new dehumidification unit and
prepare the roof for the future installation of AC rooftop units, while eliminating the
future costs to temporarily remove and reinstall the dehumidification unit.
Due to the successful financial operations the last two seasons that now includes
extended ice seasons, more tournaments, more ice rentals, the addition of University of
Dubuque usage, and more, Marie Ware, Acting Project and Facilities Manager, felt it
was important to have a discussion with the DRA/Schmitt Island Development (SID)
representatives and Arena staff regarding the potential need for AC now that use of the
ice has increased so much. Additionally, they have experienced the costs related to
taking the ice out and putting it back in, restriping/painting the ice, and load -in and load -
out of non -ice events. Brian Rakestraw, Interim CEO; Lance Carnahan, VP Casino
Operations (who oversees the Arena), Rob Kormann, Director of Facilities, (oversees all
the Q facilities and arena maintenance) and Mark Plantery, ImOn Arena General
Manager were consulted regarding the need for AC as well as other competing needs
for the Arena. They shared the following information.
Each time the ice is taken out and needs put back in there is a cost of approximately
$20,000. The cost of covering the ice also comes with the human capital cost as well
as personnel and equipment costs to recondition the ice after it is covered. Depending
0
Page 721 of 1264
upon the event, the safety glass around the area needs to be removed, which comes
with a human capital cost as well. Any event would need to cover these costs, which
means it must be a highly profitable event. The Arena was also not built for easy load in
and load out of events. The load in door is not lined up with the opening that goes to
the ice floor which does not allow easy load to in/load out of event equipment.
Does this mean that AC would never be needed? No, it does not. If we look ahead to
the potential of a second sheet of ice and a heavier load of ice events to be used
throughout twelve months in the arena, the need will rise likely again.
DISCUSSION
The City was approached with an opportunity to consider the purchase of a used 1.5
megawatt (MW) generator. The used generator is at a Dubuque facility where the
building is changing hands and the future use of the building has no need for the
generator. The generator is a size that would meet the needs of the current ice arena
and have extra capacity if a second sheet of ice if added. As outlined in the
Background section of this memo, a 1.0 MW generator could run the entire building and
a 50 KW generator could run critical systems of the arena.
The used generator is being offered at a price of $125,000. The prices above were
provided by consultants two years ago ($550,000 for a new generator to run critical
systems and $760,000 for a new generator to run the entire building).
City staff are working through the due diligence process used for considering the
purchase of used equipment. This includes but is not limited to having a third party
evaluate the used generator condition, hours of use, service records, pricing of similar
used equipment on the market, and more.
BUDGET IMPACT
Purchase of used generator $125,000
Disconnect, move, reinstall* $100,000
TOTAL $225,000
*This includes slab and foundation, electrical system
modifications at arena, screening of generator.
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request $225,000 in funding from the FY 26 Budget Amendment #1 for
the purchase, disconnection, and reinstallation of a used generator.
Prepared by Marie Ware, Acting Project and Facilities Manager
43
Page 722 of 1264
cc: Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Jared Charland, Project and Facilities Manager
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Tony Breitbach, Purchasing/Risk Manager
Anthony Williams, President and CEO Q Casino and Resort
Lance Carnahan, VP Casino Operations
Rob Kormann, Director of Facilities
Mark Plantery, ImOn Arena General Manager
El
Page 723 of 1264