Latest Covid victim: warming houses

The city of Cloquet will not open three of the city’s four warming houses this winter due to pandemic health considerations. However, all four outdoor ice skating facilities — at Sunnyside (Churchill), Pinehurst, Athletic and Dunlap Island parks — will still open.

Cloquet city councilors approved a decision by city staff and the Parks Commission to not open warming houses at Sunnyside and Athletic parks because they’re too small, and Pinehurst because it was too far away from the rink and rarely utilized. They will open the Dunlap Island warming house adjacent to the skating ribbon.

“Dunlap Island is the one instance where I think we could stay open and have people social distance,” city administrator Tim Peterson said. Public Works director Caleb Peterson said the parks commission was split 50-50 with some preferring to close all warming houses due to the pandemic.

At-large councilor Lara Wilkinson said she thought it was a reasonable compromise.

“I’m optimistic the rinks will get a lot of use this year, but we also have to exercise some precautions in small spaces,” she said.

The city will provide portable toilets at any rink without a warming house. According to a chart showing warming house usage on days they were open, Sunnyside saw an average of 12.15, Dunlap Island had an average of 9.88, Athletic was 2.2 and Pinehurst was 1.14. Rink attendant costs are approximately $350 per week most years.

— Jana Peterson