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Arena decision on backburner
Published 12:00 p.m., June 30, 2009
Members of the Fergus Falls City Council said Monday they will wait at least six months before making a decision on an estimated $6.7 million ice arena.
During that six-month period, council members hope to answer some of the major questions surrounding the project — namely, what local organizations support the arena and how much those groups are willing to contribute financially. While council members have said they believe the arena would benefit more than hockey and figure skating groups, they have yet to formally harness the support of those organizations.
Another consideration is current and anticipated losses in local government aid (LGA).
“I think part of what played into this is our budget and our loss of LGA and the economy in general,” said City Administrator Mark Sievert, adding he is hopeful the economy will start to improve in the next several months.
The council would also like to get additional feedback from the public, Sievert said, possibly through a survey distributed with utility bills.
At a joint meeting between the city council and the Fergus Falls School Board Monday, Superintendent Jerry Ness said there is no immediate deadline by which the council must decide on the arena as it relates to the school district’s building project. The school district is already planning to demolish the current high school’s A and C wings once students and staff are out of the building next summer.
If the proposed arena is not built on the southeast side of the building, one option is to use the open property as green space for physical education or athletic events, Ness said. At some point the district will need a decision on the arena so that officials can modify the design plans if necessary.
Several city council and school board members spoke in favor of the arena, which would replace the fairgrounds facility of 30-plus years. The council has determined it will not fund the overhaul of the current arena should one of the facility’s major systems fail. That could mean the loss of hockey in Fergus Falls — a detriment to everyone, said JoEllen Thacker, 4th Ward.
“If we don’t keep up with what we currently provide in our community, it’s really going to put a black mark on our community,” she said.
Yet council members disagree on whether or not the arena project should go before the public as part of referendum. Some have argued a decision on the arena should be left solely to the council, saying it’s the job of elected officials to study complex topics and make difficult decisions.
Randy Synstelien, 4th Ward, disagrees, at least when it comes to projects of considerable cost.
“I think if the city is going to invest (so) much money in any one project, the public has to vote on it,” he said.
The postponement of decisionmaking on the arena means proposed construction plans inevitably shift as well, Sievert said. An original timeline had the city going out for bids on the project this fall, with construction to begin in late summer 2010 and the arena completed by fall 2011. With a decision delayed until at least January 2010, the arena, should it move forward, would probably not be complete until fall 2012.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by ferguslifer (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hot topic, with sided opinions. I have been going up to the hockey arena, for 25 years. I have also been to other cities indoor ice rinks. We as a community are behind all of them. Granted, the other cities have made them work, with much private funds and effort with thier communities. But our place is extremely old and ineffiencent (sp?)... What happens to businesses when they become that way? (they close!!) This ice arena business is lucky to be still running.
Posted by ckint1975 (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i used to play hockey when i was a kid in this town and the area was bad then. We need this area!!! i do not have any kids here in town anymore but would still pay a small tax hike for it. I lived here all of my life and have traveled to many states and towns and even some of the smaller towns up north have way better ice rinks. We should all support it with or with out kids playing. Make it good enough to use for other thing like concerts,conventions, and other things that the city coould rent it out and make some money off it.
Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Math scores for both eighth and 11th grade Fergus Falls students fell at the bottom of the achievement list, with 50.7 percent of eighth grade students meeting or exceeding standards and 49.4 percent of 11th grade students proving proficiency"
maybe we should worry about the quality of education as much as a ice skating rink
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Haven't you heard? Hockey sharpens the mind and prepares youth for the medical/technology fields. Because youth hockey is all that matters. And _everyone_ in town is a huge fan, as well as everyone in the nation. In fact, I think the president should make hockey a mandatory sport to be played immediately after birth. There would be a minimum amount of hat tricks required or you will be publicly humiliated in the town square.
Posted by PeterHaugen (Peter Haugen) on July 1, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That could mean the loss of hockey in Fergus Falls — a detriment to everyone, said JoEllen Thacker, 4th Ward.
Well JoEllen... I hate to say it but this hockey arena is not going to bring down the entire city of Fergus Falls... What is a detriment is the quality of education we provide for our children in this city... Which has so far been "not up to par" with the exception of a few classes..
You notice how they are quick to say what grades are doing well.... lets hear about the scores of the rest of the grades... they don't want to publish them, because they are not up to par... which is why they and so many other school districts have begun trying to leave the No Child left Behind, and get away from it...
We dont need a Sports/Ice Arena... we need educators....
Its really funny how the school systems says its not going to take a side on this, and they don't want to publicly push for anything because they don't want to be tied to it, yet Ole Mr ness is caught here saying he will need to know wether to make space for it by the school or on school property or not.... cmon... get real we know the school is pushing this... They couldn't get it passed with the school bond referendum so now they are hoping the city will just pass it...
I believe there will be a public outcry is the city is to just pass this without a referendum... If you want us to shell out of pocket for this stadium then we should have a say in it...And furthermore, if you do get it built on my tax dollar, you should make it FREE FREE FREE for anyone wanting to attend any events held within the publicly funded arena if they live within the taxed area....
Posted by peanutbutter (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it would be great if we could get some private funding for the arena. Regardless if there is any private funds or not, if hockey is eliminated as a sport in Fergus Falls it would be detrimental. You can probably expect a 5 percent loss in population, followed by a loss in sales of equipment and apparel at JK sports or other retail stores, which in turn could be the loss of jobs at those locations, not to mention the loss of the people leaving that would be shopping in Fergus Falls and paying taxes in Fergus Falls. So tell me again how this wouldn't be detrimental to the city? If the quality of education needs to improve then it should start at the top and trickle down to getting better teachers, but there is no correlation between an arena and better education. These are two seperate issues. As for making events free, that makes absolutely no sense. Should the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area get to go to the twins games free and everyone else in the state have to pay, just because they are paying a tax to fund target stadium? The cost of attending events is paying for the employees and the upkeep of the facility, not the initial cost of the building.
Posted by PeterHaugen (Peter Haugen) on July 1, 2009 at 10:58 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by PeterHaugen (Peter Haugen) on July 2, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, looks like JK sports has some fans or knows somebody at the journal because you say one crooked thing against them and your post gets removed... But it is in my Opinion that if hockey is no longer around due to not getting a new arena, that if JK sports goes out of business its not a big loss. I personally and I know of others who travel to other cities to purposly avoid shopping there....Now... if this post gets removed.. then we really know someone at the journal has an in with someone at "that place" Hockey is not a detriment to this city. This city won't live or die because of that program is removed... The fact is many people are having to cut many things from their own personal budget. Company's are cutting jobs, schools constantly cutting teachers, parents cutting vacations and going out to eat, If it means cutting hockey but we will save a few good teachers then by god just do it... don't mess around... Education is more detrimental than hockey... take a lesson from everyone mrs thacker.....
Posted by ckint1975 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yes we do need hckey in this town!!!! I know what mrs thacker is talking about i played hockey with her oldest kid. I have talked to a couple of people and said in five years they think that hockey will be done in fergus falls and that there kids would go somewhere else for school and to play hockey. You put alot of time and effort with kids in hockey and after 4-7 years of playing they will not have a chance to play high-school hockey. Not fair to them. Hockey is a great thing for many kids and the commuity!!!! the hockey assoc. had told the city planners that they had money for the project and now they are asking agian wht they got. Guess they didn't listen the first time.
Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Regardless of the issue - When I voted for my rep on the City Council it's because I know him and trust him to vote as we (the majority who voted them in) would likely vote. Let's not start micromanaging our concil members for what amounts to about a $50/year increase in our property taxes. Come on council - step up to the plate and be leaders. Putting things to a referendum just gets you out of being responsible for making tough decisions. Think for yourselves and get to work.
Posted by PeterHaugen (Peter Haugen) on July 2, 2009 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another FergusFamily (Hockey Family) at work, maybe you want to give up your given rights but some people want the ability to say NO....You should have the input of 6000 to 8000 people not the city council members. And you may know your rep, but you didn't vote in the others and neither did I. This is too big of a decision to not have the community involved in. It is not getting them out of being responsible it is about allowing citizens to have their voices heard... You FergusFamily are just another one of the many who don't want a referendum.... because you know it will not get passed... Why are all of you so scared... You want to spend the residents tax money, you want to raise taxes to pay for it, you want the community to foot the bill, so don't be scared, put it to a vote... see if the community really wants it... If the community wants it, I will have no problem paying out my share in my taxes because at least it was done democratically... But i will have problems if we just allow the city to run a muck.. and not have to answer to what they are doing.. Ther are reasons that the city council denies liquor establishments the right to sell hard liquor. Because they monopolized it with the city municipal liquor store... Its about time the alcohol pays for something in this town besides an unused Bigwood event center... oh yeah... Do you all remember that ole problem... Lets Drag those skeletons out of the closet.. Whos bright idea was that.. surely not the whole towns idea to build... and here it sits used only occasionally... SAD really SAD ....
Posted by peanutbutter (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like you have major issues with our government and the way it works, not to mention the businesses in town. We voted to have people make decisions for the community, not so every issue goes up on a refferendum. Democratically is the way our government operates. You think if they sent out a vote to the nation on the recovery fund it would have passed?
FYI on the liquor store it is up to each city in Ottertail county if they want a municipal liquor store or if they want to open it up to a private owner, this is why most towns in the area have a municipal liqour store.
Posted by PeterHaugen (Peter Haugen) on July 2, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FYI peanutbutter.... Look in the books regarding Municipal Liquor Stores... They are intended for small communities with populations less than 5000 people.... Not for communities like fergus falls.. and even with municipal liquor stores... what are we allowing our city council to not give anyone else a chance to do business as on/off sale liquor establishment. Sounds a little like legalized monopolization and could be construed as rackateering in some sense... And im not saying we can't have them make decisions... Thats fine regarding various ordinances, but when it comes to raising the tax base or increasing any dollar amount that we pay towards someones "pet project" well i think it should be voted on. I don't have a lot of issues with governent in general when it is done the correct way. Yeah, I have an issue with a certian individual buisness who had horrible customer service when i went there. As far as the recovery fund... Lets think about this since you brought this to light... Why did we need a recovery fund.... BECAUSE WE ARE IN A RECESSION !!! end of story... and you think we need to spend money on a sports arena ... How do you justify this... How do you look at people at the workforce center or who can't get jobs who are struggling to make ends meet and tell them we need a new hockey arena and that is more importaint than anything else. Wwhen we have an unemployment rate of nearly 10%. I mean get real... People are already living off of unemployment, do you think by building this it is going to put some more food on their table, make it a little safer for them to drive on the roads or safer bridges, Is this more importaint than the safety of our citizens... To me a police force would be first in line... Next would be the Library... Because at least the Library is used by everyone, and at least promotes learning, something our children need... not want... Momma always tried to teach me the difference between NEEDS and WANTS... this arena... is a want not a need...... No, there are so many other areas we need to improve on before we go putting someones Pet Project arena up...
Posted by PeterHaugen (Peter Haugen) on July 2, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm calling the city's bluff,... Seems like i am the only one.. Do you actually think with this much of a stink being raised from people about hockey and how importaint it is, that they are going to not fix the current arena if it should have some failure... I mean get real... JoEllen Thacker says in one sentence it is detrimental to this town, and yet they are saying they won't fix it.... BLUFF ... they need to play a better poker game... and if they aren't bluffing... well we don't need it in this city to survive... This town is not Warroad, Theif River Falls, Roseau, I mean get real, have you ever been to one of our hockey games... parents, and friends.... In those Die Hard Hockey Cities,, everyone packs the place to see their team... Those are Hockey Town's This is fergus falls.. A retirement community... Filled with lets face it... Retired people, Police, and of course.. our geese.... We are not a Hockey Town that lives or dies off of Hockey... No where near that. You may lose a handfull of people that decided their kids need hockey but I doubt you would lose very many...
Posted by ferguslifer (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fixing the current rink, is a bigger expense then building a new one. That was made public a long time ago. Its like looking for motor parts of a machine that was made 30 years ago. Try, and find it. GOOD LUCK doing that,and being cost effective. Also speaking of cost effictive. Do you know they build houses now that are energy efficent? They use alot less energy, to keep warm in winter, cool in summer? A house built in 1955 uses alot more heating and cooling, than one built in 2005. DUH! I think they build commerical and recreational buildings the same way.
Also, I AM NOT A HOCKEY PARENT. But I do see buildings, that are well past thier prime. The limping along and making the best of the situation has been done for several years now. The BANDAID here is well worn.
I also agree that the community is in a tough situation. WE ARE a retirement community. And we were 25 years ago too. I am a Ferguslifer. I will be that way too.
Posted by themominator (Alisha Payson) on July 3, 2009 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems like more peope are against this arena than are for it, I being one of those people. The money it is going to cost to build the arena is going to be far more than what will come out of it. The population of Fergus Falls is not going to decrease by five percent if we don't have hockey. Parents already send their children to other schools because they are dissappointed with the Fergus School District, so what if a few more go. It would be nice to keep all of those kids in school here, but hockey, or the lack of it, isn't going to make much of a difference. As fas as JK Sports goes, they are not going to go out of business without hockey in Fergus Falls. Doesn't most of their business come from the embroidering that they do? I don't want to see businesses in Fergus Falls fail but something needs to be done to promote the exsisting ones and support new ones. A hockey arena is not going to help with any of that. There have to be checks and balances, as someone else mentioned and this one doesn't check out. Maybe if the economy was in better shape I wouldn't be so opposed, or if FF wasn't such a retirement community. Do you really think any of the retired people are going to benefit from this project? There are more retired people than any others so the majority of the tax dollars that will be paying for it are going to come from them. I wouldn't usually be promoting something that the retired community may be against because I want to see FF grow, but this just isn't going to do that. And I am not saying that I have something against retired people, we all make it to retirement at some time! The point is that FF seems to have a problem with growing and expanding their horizons, along with promoting things for young people to do. I believe that probably has something to do with the number of retired people in the area. I understand that a hockey arena is going to provide something for young people but not something that the majority of young people are going to participate in. We need to vote on it.
Posted by SayNoToJo (anonymous) on October 22, 2009 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sign the petition @
www.JoEllenThacker.com
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