For everyone posting an opinion here - it doesn't mean squat. Attend the city council meetings and communicate with your council member before the meeting and let them know how you feel. You may not have voted for them, or even voted at all - but they represent you.

problem w that is we dont even have enough money for schools, so lets build a new ice arena?
I am curious about the firestation? we are in need of a new fire station there why, because our firefighters are having trouble getting over to that area to put out fires?
I am not disagreeing i am just very suspicious that we NEED a new fire station over there. explain the need, please. thx
what we NEED is a good school system, and we need good public services, o if there is a genuine need i am for a fire station , but not at the expense of a 2 million dollar ice arena.

Let me bow my head and plead ignorance, I didn't have all the information I needed to pass judgement. I spoke with Councilman Bill Truman last Sunday and it seems I was wrong. The reason council members are considering building a new ice arena is because the land from the old one can be used to build the new fire station that is needed in that part of town and it would cost less for the two. If the city were to purchase land for the fire station and update the old ice arena, it would cost the taxpayers more. I stand corrected, build it.

Really......as I sit here back in my home of MN I am amazed at the ignorance of people in my former home town of Janesville. I can NOT believe you would all think that this ice arena is because of an NAHL team the Jets that fortunately came to your town last year! Wake up!!! this is about your youth in Janesville and providing them the opportunity to play a wonderful sport. What a narrow closed mind world you live in! our youth are your future and think back to the sacrifices your parents and community made for you during tough times! Don't be such self absorbed selfish negative people!

LOL ya i know...i couldnt resist the urge to comment and i forgot to take that part out :)

Im not even going to comment, what a joke. they are still considering this?? No matter how many times they look at the numbers it doesnt make sense to have 2 sheets of ice, let alone a new arena. Those in charge must have played hockey and took one to many hits to the head. If the numbers dont add up now, after all is said and done why build another one?? REFRESH THE OLD ARENA YOU GREEDY PEOPLE!!!

A second sheet of ice would allow more ice time to the public, allow youth, high school, and other teams to use the ice at reasonable hours. I believe the high school team often worksout late in the evening.

We don't need any new ice arena. Let them skate outside. Don't we have a hockey rink at Traxler? Let them pay for that!

http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/opinion-m... ------ July 30, 5:11 PM

TJ- I agree. Some of the best teams play/ practice like this. They don't have fancy places like we ALREADY have. YES this is fancy to the guys playing outside with wall made of burlap!

Heck with it all. Keep both public kiddie pools and Rockport pool filled, let the water in each freeze and skate on those.

If they want a second ice sheet, turn on the water at Traxler park and make a second ice sheet. Get those kids outside in the fresh air and play hockey like we used to, outside. It's like nobody wants their children to have to play in the cold.(?!!!)

I LOVE how everyone is biting on the bait. Obviously most of you don't get it and are looking to settle. If I walked up to you and asked for $100 to get a cup of coffee, you'd think I was insane and turn me away. But if I walked up to you and asked for $1.00 for a cup of coffee, I would get more people to give me a dollar. Because common sense says a cup of coffee is about a dollar. Bottomline, I get my cup of coffee.

They are asking for TWO sheets of ice in a new arena, just to get their new arena. Doesn't matter how many sheets are in it, just as long as they get a new arena via the taxpayers. How about this stance instead, "NO NEW ICE ARENA" it's a WANT by a few NOT a NEED by the majority !!!

Why must we keep beating this dead horse. Will it just go away or make it private and not seek public funding.

I think having an ice arena in Janesville is great. Many people say we don't have enough for kids to do here. Open skate is an option. My sons had played hockey for a couple of years and that is expensive. Youth hockey tournaments and camps can bring money to Janesville much like the water ski show. Not in 1 weekend, but thru the entire season. We did a couple out of town tournaments and spent at LEAST $500 each weekend in places like Reedsburg and Wausau. Parents, ask your kids if they would go to free skate occasionally. If not, ask why. With economy as it is, can we charge less, get more involved and make more money?If they charge $5 to skate and 20 people are there the ice arena makes $100. If they charge $3 and 40 people are there, they make $120. Maybe the same with youth hockey. Let's here from people who DO use the ice arena and those that would like to but don't. Money will always be tight and not all citizens use all facilities the city has to offer. I am not a senior citizen so don't care about the senior center. My kids are now in their 20's and drive and go to Madison or elsewhere for entertainment. But there is a need for physical activities for kids in winter. Not all kids watch TV, play video games, or read books non stop. Maybe if we build it, they will come.

It has never actually been a "dead horse". The times it has not been on the agenda have been times that studies or fundraising have been taking place. The opposition to this project on the Gazette threads is pretty much only evident here.

frusion: You're probably right. This is an issue that people probably need to voice their opposition to over and over and over again. Those in support of giving taxpayer money to a new arena don't seem to be getting the message ... although it appears that Levitt MIGHT be moving a bit more to the center on the issue.

SarahB1, one might think that, but the way this dead horse keeps coming back to life, I think it will keep pushing forward regardless of how much money is privately raised.

If you want ice, just wait until the first week of December. All you want, free!

Squint your eyes when you gaze upon the photo of Mr Levitt. Look deep into those eyes. Do you see what I see? Or is an illusion? (Or is it continual additions to the local economy's double-down-dip soon to be enhanced by this cities actions?)

There is no money for this right now. OK, next question......

Skip all of this; I doubt the skating folks will meet their fund-raising goal. Meanwhile, build the new fire station at the intersection of Racine and Main streets (southwest corner).

City Council, pretend you're running a business. I know, it's a long shot, but hear me out.

Any investment in your business should be done with a profit in mind. If you spend ten thousand dollars on a park - will you recoup that in property tax increases in that area over time? Probably.

Now, let's talk about this ice rink. We're currently using one, but it's breaking down a lot of and needs repairs. We have a hockey team that wants to play here and some folks who want to watch them.

If you invest the millions of our tax dollars into this facility - will you recoup that investment and turn a profit in a reasonable amount of time? Or more importantly - will more money be leaving our city limits versus entering our city limits?

You have not convinced me that the city or a majority of its citizens will benefit from any money spent on the ice arena.

Sell it to the highest bidder and cut our losses now.

Bisquit5: Ha Ha, well said!!!!

as for the ice arena I think theyre full of sheet

It's worth noting a youth hockey camp was canceled this summer due to lack of interest resulting in too few enrollees to hold the camp.

Why is this subject back again? when the issue with the case feed building on rockport and Center has not been taking care of? school starts shortly and young children will be walking around the fenced off area ether in the road or forced to cross the street to get around the vacant building,oops for got wrong side of town nobody cares.

NO to the second ice sheet. Why does this committee keep 'slipping' this into the Council agenda? Do they think they're going to 'melt' the 'cold' naysayers into saying yes? No means No, end of story.

We aint got to raze are stinkin ACT avragez, we need more sports!

I agree we cannot afford a WANT at this time ! Sure it would be nice to have, however we are thinking about adding a garbage fee because of shortfalls in the budget, yet are thinking about a ice arena...NO WAY...NOT NOW. Let's take care of the needs of the entire city first, before we think of a luxury that will only be utilized by a few.
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And before I get bashed with those saying it brings in revenue, please show me the factual dollar amounts this adds to the city and area businesses. If and only if they are very substantial, would I consider a venture like this, and only in a better economic climate.

Give it up already. You hired somebody to give you advice on a second sheet. If you don't care about their opinion they WHY waste all that money.

Here we go again it the Same OLD Sh*^ again. This is how this city operates wasting time and money trying to pass the same things over and over. I agree that this is a waste. Move on already cause I am. I am so sick of this place that I am moving to Florida in October see you later.

Only 2 out of 29 people on the team are from Janesville! We want to spend HOW much money on 2 of our citizens??!!?!?!!!!!!!!!

We, or They rather: Already know how the public as a majority feels about this. This is just another of those "If we keep bringing this COLD* subject up, eventually the detractors will subside/ or become apathetic...thingy"
Sure hope everyone stays abreast to this Squeeze-Play-Action?
They want it, they must come up with the money from somewhere ELSE.
{City of 62K. a possible 100 Local families use. I dunno folks...Whaddah You Think?}