The city manager and city council has made a wise choice to table this!

ya I'll get right on that

thediplomat,

Why don't you finance the team yourself instead of trying to get the city council to steal $1.20 from every resident that is against the idea. A hockey team is not a common good like police protection, fire protection, and water treatment.

spacejam,

Are you reading every other post? I responded to my chump change comment yesterday. Instead of wasting time explaining it again, do a ctl F and search for 'thediplomat' and read my response.

SarahB: You have added very good points in this blog!

lakennedy,

Come on this isn't 1905 or a third world country. $1.20 is chump change. So you will have to go without that extra double cheeseburger off the dollar menu this year.

thediplomat: If 200,000 is "chump change" put your money in donations, where your mouth is!

THE CITY IS SELLING ITSELF SHORT. The contract, including the remodeling, will cost the city (very) roughly $125,000 over the five-year period of the contract. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Hockey Partners group will see a total profit of (very) roughly $450,000 BEFORE PROFITS from merchandise, novelties, beer sales, advertising, summer camps, etc. If I had the money to invest in this franchise, I would be laughing all of the way to the bank. It will bring fun to Janesville and the WHP guys will be sitting pretty. Am I jealous, you'd better believe it!

diplomat: $1.20 may seem like chump change to you, but don't assume it is to everyone else.

I hope you all will be at the meeting tonight to voice your concerns/support regarding this issue.

DrTalk,

You really need to think before you respond. To a budget for the city of Janesville that is chump change. Did you not read that it will equate to an extra $1.20 per resident. Sorry, but even in this recession, $1.20 is chump change.

If it meant that the ice rink would be remodeled and upgraded....I'll go to every game to count towards 700. I'm in no way a hockey fan but that rink has needed some love for years. I'm a former figure skater and of all the area rinks I used....Janesville was the worst. My mom would drive me to Stoughton at all hours of the day just to get decent ice time. Money well spent. In fact, my son may even be encouraged to try hockey when he's old enough IF the facilities were better.

thediplomat,
Let the council know that you are willing to donate $200,000 for renovations since it sounds like you have that kind of money. To you it's just chump change, right?

Be-Happy "Smart,common sense remarks from all posters are not working here,so I will repeat myself...For $29,000 I can draw pretty pictures too! Sign me up!!"

you must be the cheapest designer ever!!!

Smart,common sense remarks from all posters are not working here,so I will repeat myself...For $29,000 I can draw pretty pictures too! Sign me up!!

One more thing, $200,000 is chump change for renovations. This is what one of the NAHL Junior A teams is doing right now for renovations: http://www.tornadohockey.com/news/curren...

You guys have to be some of the cheapest people in the US. It is no wonder that the town of Janesville has nothing in it for entertainment, arts, etc. You people are literally complaining about what will amount to less than $2 on your taxes. It is no wonder the town doesn't have any big businesses in it (ABC is in Beloit). You people don't know how to attract business and white collar jobs. And yes I know a junior A hockey team won't attract a large business to up and move to Janesville, but you have to start somewhere. The more you have to do in the city, the more people will want to live there. When the population grows it will attact businesses and maybe one day you can actually retain some of your college grads from moving away.

Its gonna be exciting watching you people cry when this gets passed since its "already" been decided. What little you actually know, wait a few weeks and watch the news. But wait you already know every little thing about this town and what is good for it.

Synergy...that comment strikes me as being below the belt and uncalled for.

How about we stick to the topic and leave your cleanliness out of it?

Oh, if you have had the time to read my post you will see that I am! And have called the council members! I hope it didn’t fall on deaf ears either!

That is you response? OK have a good night

so do you go, answer the ?????

Synergy08: Please tell use something we don't already know!

We will hear the cities decision Monday night, They will hear ours in the Spring elections and beyond. Every dime this city has should be going to helping the tax payers, who have funded the city for generations find gainful employment here in Janesville. Wait until the base support is stable before going off on a special interest spending spree. This whole thing is like a Trojan Horse, there are all kinds of surprises inside and none of them good for the tax payer. If we want to gamble with our money we can buy lottery tickets not hockey pucks.

Sometimes I wonder if the taxpayers should hire a lobbyist to protect their best interest!

The investor's I would hope knew that they should have had sponsors before hand and why they didn’t is lack of judgment or priorities! It is in their best interest for the league to start ASAP! They are not even sure if they can come up with sponsors and if not oh-well! These investors are scrambling for income! At-least this is the way it appears! So far their lack of sound judgment is not the taxpayers responsibility! Investors please do your groundwork before asking for money, that’s the least you could do! Come-on your investors! The city should redo this agreement or none at all! Council please use sound judgment and say NO for NOW!

Mind you the same group of investor's are not even sure if this would fly let alone they still need sponsors! It would be common sense to have sponsors before asking taxpayers to pay for this idea!

Let's say the city brought in 10 jobs that pay 12.00 an hour or more the benefits of that would far out-weight what is proposed! Our ice arena may NEED more and I'm all for that and our kid's, but to just put money up for a group of investor’s is outrageous! Please correct me if I’m wrong!!

I can't even fathom the idea of who much taxpayer money has been spent already on this. The city managers time the city attorney's time and other time provided by the city employee’s! We can do better and must do better!

Those comments were made about a month ago! Our economy has gone further down since then. I hope they are sensitive to the less fortunate taxpayer and change their minds. This can work, but not like that!
Please read the agreement! It is at the cities web site as mentioned in another post.

I think the public was not totally aware of how their money was being or going to be spent on this idea and of course your not going to have any disagreement at that point in time. This set-up and push through has been pre- thought out in my opinion! So is it shame on me for not knowing what was going on, especially when some of this was discussed during closed sessions. I am truly saddened that comments like those were made that early in the process with out hearing from others just before voting on this!

After reading what was posted about the city council comments regarding the Hockey Partners, I have to say again that people lose any critical thinking skills they may have had and become totally brain dead when it comes to sports. There are much more important and vital issues in the world.

If this is the best our city council can come up with to create more jobs for the city of Janesville, we need to clean house come election time.

Anyone watch Saturday Night Live last night??? About not spending money that you don't have. It goes to show you how dumb some people can really be.

At least the council members appear to be thinking clearly. Go Junior A hockey.

Doesn't matter if the team will bring jobs. They just end up going to friends and family of city higher ups--without being advertised anyway!

-- "Overall, looking at this, it would be good for the city. Out of 13 e-mails, I had two negatives. …. Even though the city may not make any money here, (the team would) bring people into the city of Janesville. (They) have to have a place to stop and eat and get gas."—Bill Truman

-- "Overall, the people I've had contact with regarding the possibility … have been positive. It's amazing how many hockey families are out there."—Russ Steeber

-- "I do feel that having a hockey team is economic development. I do believe it would be a good boost in the arm for morale in the city."—Yuri Rashkin

-- "I've been in Janesville my entire life, and it's always been the east side against the west site, Parker against Craig … It is very nice to see one sport where males and females, eastsiders and westsiders, are all coming together … I think this is money well spent."—Amy Loasching

-- "Public-private partnerships … (are) very important for future development in the city of Janesville … Will it create jobs? Yes, it will … I think this is really what our community needs. Not to minimize $200,000, but I think you can't put a price on what this is going to do for the youth in our community as well as families."—Kathy Voskuil

-- "One of the things we hear constantly is (to) take care of what we have. This is an opportunity where we can make an investment in one of our existing older facilities … As far as the hockey team, it's a great opportunity for the city."—Tom McDonald
Looks like it already has been decided Just what Janesville tax payers need. Gambling with tax money

ok,my last comment aside....I think this thing is a very bad idea ! McDonalds isnt even hiring anymore from what I hear and the city wants to spend HOW MUCH????? Im all for the ice rink,just not at the expense of the the rest of us! I agree with most comments here. Fix the economy FIRST!!!!! Wait,um...work first,play later.Strange concept? That's what I was taught growing up.Remember the 3 little pigs? 2 did not heed warnings,they had to hide under the 3rd !!! No thanks ! I would rather do things right !

itsybitsyspyer: Excellent!!I will be there too, please call the council members!

Good people-Please go to this web page (City of Janesville Website)and click on the link for agenda materials.
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/citysite/...
The proposal from the city is posted. It is under the 2/23/09 agenda/old business/
#5 Agreement with Wisconsin Hockey Partners, LLC (File Res. #2009-569)
Read it through. The City Council is pretty much putting the silver spoon in the mouth of the WHP. Right down to the parking lot which is reserved solely for them 2 hours prior to, and one hour after a game. The city would not even consider these improvements for their own kids, their own high school team, their own hockey playing citizens young & old-but this WHP comes along and gets quite the preferential treatment. If we are to make the improvements, lets do it for OUR hockey players in Janesville. C'mon our hockey players will not even get to have use of the new improvements because the improvements are for the WHP. Check out page 16 of the agreement, #10-A. "WHP is the Primary tenant at the Ice Center"
The improvements should be made, they are long overdue but the manner in which this is being pushed through really smells to high heaven. You people all have such valid arguments (both ways) on this issue. I've been reading the posts for days. Go and voice how you feel at this meeting. You will not be the only one there.

Like I said I wonder if Mcdonald & Gustafson would like to be proud sponsors?

good question!!

Can anybody at least tell us taxpayers who comprises the Wisconsin Hockey Partners?

For the REAL TRUTH on this hockey debate, please go to: http://rocknetroots.blogspot.com

It's apparent they need sponsors. I would of had them before a came asking for money! It's common sense people!!!

I've arealdy stated Donation's and sponsors ah car wash

I guess I will this is what I have aready wrote "I'm here asking how you think WE can make it work. The taxpayers own the building and probably wouldn't mind putting it up for use. But don't expect them to pay more! Neither of you have given any other ideas to fund this, besides what the tax payer already pays for. Give me a break"

beenthere:
"we understand from all of your posts that you don't want this to pass" I beg to differ, Read all my post in here and you will understand. You may have to click on one of my post to see other things I have wrote. I really don't want to go over it agaian unless I need to.

When it comes to sports it seems that people go brain dead and are ready to hand over whatever money is needed of them with no questions asked. Maybe it is because they have had one to many pucks to the head.

Please do take a break.

The taxpayers would be gambling against odds not in their best interest!! It’s a “no-brainer” Mr. Levitt must be able to come up with something better than what’s proposed! The tax payers pay him approximately $140,000 a year and this is the best he can come up with? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SarahB,

Let's hope so.

I've feared for weeks that this is already a DONE DEAL! Folks, when the Council unanimously approved the $29,000 for the rink improvement designs, they also voted unanimously to approve the $200,000 for the rest of the plan. This was before it was even presented for a vote. The council then backtracked and announced that only the $29,000 was actually approved so far. Face it, this plan is likely all wrapped up.

spacejam, we understand from all of your posts that you don't want this to pass. What do you suggest the council do instead to make the city better and appease you and others that just want to say no? Inform us and the council.

tj24:
"I don't actually think it's such a bad idea" SO YOUR TELLING ME WITH THE ODD'S THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH IS GOOD! THIS IS A GAMBLE PLEASE DON'T SUPPORT GAMBLING WITH TAX PAYER MONEY!!!

For $29,000 I can draw pretty pictures too! I want THAT job! Where do I sign up?

I don't actually think it's such a bad idea. Bring in a league would bring in other teams and fans. That equals revenue for our gas stations, restaurants and sometimes hotels.

I think it was entirely stupid to spend the 29K for drawings that early. And I think any decisions should be based on a solid agreement from the league because we can not afford to waste the money. I hope that 200K renovates a lot more than the locker rooms because the warming rooms and other areas are pretty dismal in comparison to other rinks.

What kind of things would actually create jobs? That's all anyone keeps saying. I get we need jobs but WHAT should be done to make that happen? The new hospital (even though I was opposed to it) would but isn't moving much. What is worthwile enough to spend money that creates enough jobs to warrant the expense? Everyone expects the council to know but do you?

hides in the snow drift to avoid the spelling police

I totally agreeeee

hey rooster it is a very nice road though isn't it??

How many ways can Rock County spend our money without ever making a significant impact on the citizens? Why are they thinking about this when half the county is unemployed or facing unemployment? People are looking at having to move out of the county to survive and they are thinking about a hockey league? This just goes along with the bike tunnel, the aquatics facility, another park and Milton's new school. Wake up and get ur heads out of your butts! We obviously don't have the extra money to go to a hockey game when we barely have the money to pay our mortgages. $200,000 would be a nice grant for a new business to come to town.

decide monday? i bet they have already made up their mind. the rest is window dressing. i was driving from kellog north past gm using the new thru way under the railroad tracks, built for gm so trains would not stop the flow of parts to the plant. in retrospect, a nice piece of construction, but gm still pulled out and probably knew they would before the project was even started. leaves one wondering if it was another project made with good intentions then having a negative outcome. wasted taxpayers money. now a 200000 dollar ice rink renovation for something that may or may not result in a good outcome. more city council garbage planning.

If you want to score a goal invest in JOBS!!!! (Jobs that would support a family) I would hope we don’t gamble with taxpayer money!

People you have a better chance winning the lottery!!!

"Each team plays a 58-game regular season, running from September to April. More games might be played as exhibitions or in league playoffs."
"The team must draw an average of 700 fans for each game. It also needs corporate sponsors." If I was a gambling man, I would definitly pass. I would hope the council will pass the puck on these odd's

Can we get some fries with this?????

Obama has never been to a hockey game & neither have i,and i'm much older then him,what's the big deal?? If the city has 1/4 mill.to throw around,that in my opinion IS a waste,give the money to the food pantry,and you'll know your getting a return. I think this and any big spending in this town for foolish gods on the hills personal "WANT'S", should go on the APRIL Ballots,for the majority to vote on,not the minority of this town!

At least it went from $1.50 to $1.00
I think we can both agree on that!

shdow5: good to see you made it here.

Spend my $1 helping my neighbor get a job so they do not have to move from our city. Is that too much to ask?

Please excuse typo's

I would hope that $29,000 is a cap and not what will be billed to the city!

br549: GOOD POINT I realize planning is not free , but $29,000 seem's very high! (and I'm coming from over 30 years in construction)

Why do you think the new hospital is not being built? Someone came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t be SOUND JUDGEMENT right know!

This is NOT a case of "you build it, they'll come. It's more like "you build it, they MIGHT come".

I agree lets invest in our city! I can tell you and the famlies without a job can tell you it is JOBS! ( jobs that can support a family)

You know what got a lot of people and business's in trouble in our economy? Spending on a house, car etc.. that they couldn't afford! (A WANT, RISK) Know we are bailing them out! We NEED sound judgment and more JOBS! Until we have that our economy will stay the same or get worse!

Keep in mind the Historical Soc. would like some money?? The Senior Center would like some money just to name a few of MANY! How would you tell them this idea is more deserving?

You don't, I think the investment needs to be made in all of these areas. Let's invest in the City, not cut ourselves in to Mediocrity.

It sort of makes a person feel they are obligated to go through with this! I hope that they save the plans and not spend $200,000 until the economy gets better or more outside funding is proposed!

I could not believe they spent 29,000 before all the "duckies" where in a row! amazing

Yes they did spend 29,000 on this already! That's the taxpayer's city manager and council hard at work for you!

We need more constructive ideas like the one mentioned below to make this fly! BEFORE SPENDING MONEY ON A RISK

Doesn't the school district of Janesville recieve ($1,200-1,800) for EVERY student that school choices to Janesville for hockey (or any other reason)from the district of opt out EVERY year the student attends? Milton will be paying Janesville (for hockey kids) this amount for dozens of kids which will be THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars for kids that school choice to Janesville. And now with Jr. Hockey? All of the students in the Janesville district benefit from this income. The districts of Milton/Janesville should come to some kind of agreement to consolidate the hockey program and split the cash otherwise Milton is going to see a huge impact from this loss of income due to hockey families.

I stand corrected sorry the current net profit is less then what I stated! Anyways,” The city is assuming some risk if the team is unsuccessful" This is a RISK that this city can't afford at this time and the amount proposed.

We already collect $15,000 to $20,000

When the hockey league presented this to Janesville they stated if the taxpayers of Janesville don't accept this that they have a couple other cities to go to! Yes they offer the league and it is still not clear who would collect the profit either!
How can WE make this work without putting the burden solely on the taxpayer? Keep in mind the Historical Soc. would like some money?? The Senior Center would like some money just to name a few of MANY! How would you tell them this idea is more deserving?

On the contrary $229,000 is a drop in the bucket if children have a local facility to compete for scholarships. Give the kids a place to play hockey that is taste of the NHL. Lets hope that inspires more kids from our local area to go on to become pro's. I live next to two boys that live,eat,and breathe hockey the determination from these two alone merit a facility to grow in. We as a community give other sports the facilities they need locally to succeed. Why should this be any different?

There are some key phrases in this article that should be a clue to any taxpayer.
“Wisconsin Hockey Partners must decide whether it will be worth the financial risk to locate in Janesville” – This statement implies that they have not decided that it is worth the risk. “The team would create four full-time jobs and some part-time positions.” – If this was a done deal should that not read the team WILL create instead of would create? “It also needs corporate sponsors.” This statement implies that the team has yet to secure any corporate sponsors. One would think that the contract between the Hockey Partners and the city of Janesville would be signed, sealed and delivered before the city agrees to any type of funding. If there has been any talk of a contract, nothing I have read or seen seems to imply this.

$229,000 is way over priced! Now is not the time, let our economy "heal" then we can revisit this idea! If it needs to be fixed let's do what NEEDS to be done, but not at the tune of $200,000! I hope the city does not drop the puck on this!

http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/feb/17/... this has been debated, a "should read"

Good points brought up in this article. "Lets Play Hockey".

Good. Let's get this hockey decision made. I am sick of the whole debate.