AUBURN — The first shovelfuls of dirt have yet to be dug at the Turner Street site of a planned dual surface ice arena, but the city has started looking for a manager for the facility.

“We need to start securing contracts — advertising agreements, vendor contracts, vendor services, making sure we have concessions ready and the appropriate supplies,” City Manager Clinton Deschene said. “We are going to need someone to run it, and the sooner we can get them in and all those things going, the better it will be.”

The city posted a notice on its website Friday afternoon looking for a manager with knowledge of park administration, recreation, sports management, ice arena management, maintenance, budgeting, marketing, event planning and scheduling.

The notice does not list a salary range, and Human Resources Director Deborah Grimmig said the city does not intend to disclose one now.

“If someone is interested, we encourage them to come in and apply,” she said. “If it gets to that point, we can discuss compensation and benefits.”

Deschene said the notice is posted to Auburn’s website and he is considering where else the city will advertise it.

“I have feelers out for some agencies,” Deschene said. “I think probably a recreation director group or agency would be the closest fit we find. We’ll look there.”

Deschene said the hiring schedule is still being discussed. He hopes to have decided in May when the manager will be hired.

Deschene said developer George Schott could begin construction on the rink any day, depending on the weather.

“The developer has a schedule to start this month,” Deschene said. “Depending on temperatures and weather, you may see things happening there right off.”

City councilors approved the lease agreement on the ice rink in October, agreeing to let developer Schott build the ice arena on land he owns behind Shaw’s on Turner Street. According to the plan, the city will lease the facility from Schott, and rink revenue is expected to cover most of the costs.

The entrance will face Center Street, according to the latest design plans. The proposed arena will have seats for 811 spectators in one rink, 200 in a second rink, and 80 to 100 seats in a shared mezzanine. Plans also call for 200 movable seats that can be used in either rink.

The new arena should also feature eight locker rooms, four coaches rooms, two lockers for referees, a pro shop and second-floor warmed spectator area with a concession stand.

[email protected]