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Holiday Twin Rinks set to reopen after Friday inspections

Assuming the inspections are a success, the Cheektowaga rink plans to reopen sometime Friday.

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Cheektowaga code enforcement inspectors are set to conduct their final inspections at Holiday Twin Rinks on Friday morning. 

Assuming the inspections are a success, the rink plans to reopen sometime Friday. 

"Both of my inspectors are scheduled to go back for final inspection and receive the documentation related to the testing," said Rick Coburn, supervising code enforcement officer in Cheektowaga. 

Coburn says the owners of Holiday Twin Rinks have made substantial repairs for the last week, and that includes a new heat exchanger, filtration systems, and new detection systems. 

On Dec. 27, more than 100 people were sent to nearby hospitals after carbon monoxide levels ranging between 200 to 400 ppm were detected in the facility.

In a phone conversation, Coburn said this is an isolated incident and that the twin rinks haven't had "any deficiencies through the periodic inspections that we performed on site."

Building supervisor for the rinks, Jim Bender, told 2 On Your Side that he was made aware of detector issues around Dec. 20 or Dec. 21. 

Coburn said that when his team inspected the building on Dec. 27 that "a bunch of devices were already removed."

Since an investigation wasn't conducted, Coburn said "it's hard to determine what specific device caused the largest [CO] effect." 

Holiday Twin Rinks officials had said a heater in the lobby and ice resurfacing machine were the main culprits for the leak. 

Owner Mark Grundtisch said his company would reimburse anyone impacted by the incident for medical bills incurred. 

Coburn said that his department has a heightened sense of concern as it relates to carbon monoxide issues in public buildings. Coburn also added that his department and lawmakers in Cheektowaga may need to explore whether grandfathered code enforcement, in some instances, should still be allowed. 

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