Insurance and repair plans for Hodag Dome underway

The Rhinelander community suffered a terrible shock on Sunday, March 30, when news broke that a generator failure during a weekend ice storm had resulted in the partial deflation of the Hodag Dome. In short order, school district officials determined that the 128,000 square foot facility, a great source of local pride and an important economic engine since it opened in February 2021, would have to be fully deflated in order to prevent further tears to the PVC fabric.

The temporary loss of an integral part of the community’s landscape was upsetting to many, as demonstrated by numerous social media comments. It also raised an array of questions, including where City of Rhinelander residents would vote on April 1.

That issue was resolved when the city’s common council directed that the city’s polling location be moved to the James Williams Middle School gymnasium.

At the same time, the school district began the process of assessing the damage and rescheduling scheduled events.

By late Thursday afternoon district officials had an update for the community.

“The School District of Rhinelander (SDR) is actively working to assess and repair the Hodag Dome to restore it to full operation,” superintendent Eric Burke announced in a press release. As part of the process, Aegis Insurance representatives were scheduled to be at the Dome on Friday, April 4 “to conduct a thorough review.”

“Their visit will include an inspection of the entire facility and a detailed evaluation of the generator specifications,” the release said.

Representatives from Arizon, the Dome's manufacturer, are scheduled to be on-site as soon as weather conditions permit, according to the release.

“Once enough snow has melted, Arizon will assess the damage and determine the necessary repairs. SDR will then collaborate with Aegis Insurance to facilitate and schedule the repair work needed to reinflate and restore the Dome,” the release said. 

After the Dome is successfully reinflated, “further assessments will be conducted on the interior to identify and address any additional repairs required,” district officials reported. “Once all necessary repairs are completed, the Hodag Dome will resume normal operations. “

As of press time, there was no repair schedule or timeline for reopening the facility, although district officials said they anticipate there will be a clearer understanding of the way forward once the assessment process is underway.

Additionally, officials stressed that the district is “committed to understanding the cause of the generator failure.”

“The District will implement protocols and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring the continued reliability of the facility, the release said. “The School District of Rhinelander appreciates the patience and support of the community as we work diligently to restore this vital resource. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”

“It’s going to be a process that requires patience,” Burke added in an email to the Star Journal.