Council to consider hockey vote Monday
On the agenda
The Janesville City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.
Items on the agenda include:
-- Consideration of an agreement with Wisconsin Hockey Partners.
-- Action on a request to waive the special event fee for the 2009 Farmers Market.
-- Action on a proposed resolution directing Kennedy Homes to install sidewalks at the Ridges of Rock County Plat Number 1. To guarantee construction of sidewalks, Kennedy Homes paid 15 percent of the sidewalk assessment in cash and provided a bond for the remaining 85 percent. The sidewalks have not been built, and Kennedy Homes is facing financial difficulties making it unlikely it will continue the development. To collect on the bond, the city must direct Kennedy Homes to install the sidewalks. Cost of sidewalks is $770,400.
-- Action on a resolution authorizing $235,335 to operate Oak Hill Cemetery for the remainder of 2009.
JANESVILLE — City Manager Eric Levitt recommends that the city spend $1 million over five years to make needed repairs to the Janesville Ice Skating Center.
He also recommends that the council on Monday approve an agreement with Wisconsin Hockey Partners to bring a junior A hockey team here.
Wisconsin Hockey Partners has asked the city to build separate locker rooms and offices required by the league.
The modifications to the ice center also would expand the concession stand and improve the heating, restrooms and sound system at a total cost of $229,000.
The ice arena was built in 1975 and its components are original. Many of the more costly repairs are listed as being past due.
Two weeks ago, for instance, the ice-making system lost 400 pounds of Freon, resulting in a $6,000 repair bill. That brings total repairs to the chilling system since April 2008 to $31,000.
The recommended repairs in 2009 are:
-- Replace upper roof, $125,000.
-- Replace fire exit doors, $30,000.
-- Repair water damage to all cement block walls, $18,000.
Repairs in 2010 include:
-- Replace the ice-making system, $700,000.
-- Repair leaking cooling tower, $8,000,
-- Prevent ice damage to northeast corner of building, $5,000.
-- Repair cast iron boiler, $10,000.
Other repairs are scheduled over the remaining three years for an average expense per year of $204,900 and a total of $1 million. A new ice-making system would be more energy efficient and also reduce the cost of maintenance.
A new facility would cost an estimated $2 million.
The city subsidizes the ice arena at about $85,000 a year, and officials anticipate additional annual revenue of $15,000 or more if the hockey team locates here.
The council delayed a vote on the contract Wisconsin Hockey Partners after members of the figure skating group complained they had not been contacted about possible changes to their schedule. The city has since met with that group.
In addition, the council was concerned the contract did not specifically address how beer would be sold. Some council members were concerned about mixing beer with youth at the facility. Wisconsin Hockey Partners has said beer sales are needed for revenue.
The contract now states alcohol would be sold in a separate area and designated drinking sections would be further investigated.
Financing improvements for the team would cost about $1 a year for the average home assessed at $113,000.
Adult admission to the games would be $9, with $6- to $7-tickets provided for youth, seniors and group outings. Wisconsin Hockey Partners estimates it needs an average of 700 spectators at each home game to be financially successful.
Mar 23, 2009 at 2:32 p.m.
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Since the city took over the arena how much has the tax payer put into it to date? How much has been returned from revenue to date? No fuzzy math please. Turn it into a roller skate rink,let the school clubs use it for fund raisers, Dance and Band events, art shows, the city can rent spots for an annual city flea market, auctions cha-ching$ etc..Take a deep breath put the pen down and go ask the people throughout the community, in every ward what do they want? Get outside the box.
Mar 22, 2009 at 5:38 p.m.
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lovemycountry: I like your idea of having a public shooting range. I would use that all of the time rather than the ice arena (never have been there).
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I agree with those who have posted, saying let a private business take over and fund this want that is from only a few. There are more important things for Janesville to fund right now that are needs. IF at a latter date and time we have a excess of money and the economy is in better shape, then we can look at funding the wants like bike tunnels, children's museums and ice arenas, until then we need to stop wasting money.
Mar 22, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
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There should be no question this should pass, this is a city building and should be taken care of before doing anything new like the bike tunnel. Take care of what you got before building new! The naysayers are people the people that do not use this facility and if they dont like it they have the right to move! This will make the rink more money, it should be an easy choice. It's hard to make everyone happy, so some people will be mad, oh well. Lets play hockey!
Mar 22, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
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note to the janesville city council. "JUST SAY NO." gazetterooster@gmail.com
Mar 22, 2009 at 9:53 a.m.
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Thousands of people go to the movies. How about if taxpayers pay for a government owned movie theater ? If taxpayers can afford hockey team entertainment, they can afford it all !
Mar 22, 2009 at 9:45 a.m.
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There are hundreds of individuals (including teens) that use private shooting ranges in the area. How about if taxpayers pay for a government owned shooting range ?
Mar 22, 2009 at 8:53 a.m.
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That is not a list of repairs. That is a whole new building proposal or it should be. How does the ice area get away with loosing that much refrigerant without getting shut down by the EPA?
Better find some private funding fast this is gonna be a melt down...
Mar 22, 2009 at 7:24 a.m.
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i agree why should ppl that dont use the ice area have to pay for it?
Mar 22, 2009 at 7:03 a.m.
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My God people if your city can afford 1 million dollars to waste,your council needs to be replaced.Let this group ask for private funding.Delavan did the same thing on there big skate park.And the park got built without tax payers money.
Mar 22, 2009 at 2:53 a.m.
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To those that say I’m negative or complaining sorry if the truth hurts!!!!!!!!
Mar 22, 2009 at 2:44 a.m.
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Bonnis davis and Eric Levitt both have had there share of investigations. Look here for Bonnie Davis :
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2009/jan...
Here for Eric Levitt:
http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?ar...
Mar 22, 2009 at 1:59 a.m.
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Recreation Director Bonnie Davis was on the Stan Milam Show (WCLO). I wonder if Bonnie Davis was “ on the clock” while she gave information about the arena, and if she was; who authorized her to go on the Stan Milam Show? I would hope that she was there on her own time and not the taxpayer dime!
Mar 21, 2009 at 11:41 p.m.
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THIS IS WHAT THE CITY MANAGER STATED ON Feb. 19 2009
“Unfortunately. I do not perceive that the current economy allows for that extent of improvements.”
THIS IS WHAT THE CITY MANGER STATED ON Mar. 21 2009
“City Manager Eric Levitt recommends that the city spend $1 million over five years to make needed repairs to the Janesville Ice Skating Center.”
Mar 21, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
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I had two boys that played ice hockey at the Janesville Ice Arena. The oldest went to play for Parker High School. Now he's is on a mens league. So improving and adding on the the arena for a Junior Hockey Team is within reason.
There other people that use the ice arena, but the people that complain, probably never been inside the arena.
I have even announce games that the Arena on with other people at tournments. I even worked in the concession stand. You meet people that way, and share storys how the children grew up playing ice hockey. You would a laugh or two.
Mar 21, 2009 at 1:12 p.m.
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I Happen to own My dream Home in Ridges.And i am very happy to see the city finally pay attention to us out here . it only took 2 years but hey it is a start no how about you fix that tree and build that park here in ridges
Mar 21, 2009 at 6:33 a.m.
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Maybe Janesville can put up a sign by the city limits sign stating, if your coming to Janesville to live and like overly high taxes you found the right city! Janesville offers the best amenities too!!!
Mar 21, 2009 at 5:27 a.m.
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This is what Mr. Levitt said in a memo to the city council dated February 19, 2009 page 2 of 6 “I believe that we could involve user groups to a limited extent in the improvements. However, my current goal is to limit the improvements to less than $200,000. There are more than $ 1 Million in reasonable improvements that would benefit the facility and all user groups long-term. Unfortunately. I do not perceive that the current economy allows for that extent of improvements.” OH MY how things have changed !!!!
Mar 21, 2009 at 12:15 a.m.
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This, along with the Children's Museum and Bike Tunnel, should be done with private sector funding. If you want hockey to come to Janesville, write the team a check. The city council should no waste tax dollars on it. The council should also not allow them to sell beer at games.
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