The Saranac Lake Civic Center stands empty on Thursday. The planned rollerskating program would put the facility to use during the off-season too. (Enterprise photo — Grace McIntyre)

NORTH ELBA — The North Elba Town Council on Tuesday granted $5,000 of cannabis taxation revenue to the Saranac Lake Civic Center to establish a roller skating program. The motion was accepted at a board meeting on Tuesday.

Although the Saranac Lake Civic Center is not located in the town of North Elba, Councilman Rick Preston said the project qualified for funding because it would benefit both North Elba and the village of Lake Placid. The next closest roller skating rinks are located in Queensbury, Rutland and Montreal, the funding application states.

Marnie Crane, the facility organizer at the civic center, agrees, saying the building on Ampersand Avenue in the village of Saranac Lake is an important asset for North Elba and Lake Placid. Saranac Lake is located in two counties — Essex and Franklin — and three towns — North Elba, Harrietstown and St. Armand. The civic center is in Harrietstown.

“The town of North Elba has done a really great job supporting the civic center because of the acknowledgment that we’re serving the town of North Elba in multiple ways,” Crane said.

Crane said the idea for the roller skating rink was partially inspired by the Rockefeller Center, which converts its ice rink into a roller skating rink in the off-season. When the civic center takes the ice out in March, the skating rink would be open in April until the ice is put back in September.

The roller skating project is also an effort to make the best use of their space, which underwent a major renovation in 2021 and 2022 in time for the curling competition during the 2023 FISU World University Games.

“Is a very welcoming space,” Crane said. “And so what we’ve created is somewhat of a community beacon during ice skating, which will lend itself to roller skating. That’s our hope.”

The funding is specifically intended for the purchase of 300 pairs of skates that the civic center would rent to visitors. They have already been awarded two grants: one for $10,000 by the Franklin County Destination Development/Marketing Program and one for $5,000 from the Cloudsplitter Foundation. Crane said they will wait until the project is fully funded before starting, but that they hope they can be open in the spring of 2025.

The Cannabis Tax Fund was established when the North Elba board passed the new tax policy on July 9 following several months of discussion. The funding prioritizes local youth, elderly community members and law enforcement, as well as the town’s general fund. As of this week, North Elba Community Development Director Haley Breen said the town has collected $87,900 in Cannabis Tax Fund revenue in 2024.

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Other projects seeking funding

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Another project seeking approval for funding from the Cannabis Tax Fund is a pollinator garden planned for Lake Placid Elementary School. According to the application submitted by Cynthia Baird, the project is meant to teach students about gardening and food production, as well as provide a community attraction. The project would “create a platform for biodiversity, to increase local pollination, provide community engagement, and to increase learning opportunities for the community,” the application states.

The project is awaiting approval, but the application states that the project, with a $10,000 budget, would aim to be completed in the spring of 2025. The town council is awaiting further details before approving the funding application.

The board also received an application for cannabis taxation revenue from the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society, which is seeking funding for a plan to enhance outdoor spaces at the museum. The proposed enhancements include landscaping, interpretive signage and security cameras.

“As part of the Historical Society’s 2023 strategic plan, a commitment was made to update the museum facilities and property to provide a better visitor experience and an increased capacity to meet the needs of the community in the twenty-first century,” the application states.

This application was also tabled pending further information. According to the application, the historical society is also seeking funding through the North Elba Enhancement and Advancement Fund and cannabis grants as well as from private sources.