PanamaRed...you make too much sense, I appreciate your effort to try to explain. I'm afraid that no matter how many times you explain the rinks needs and what is necessary as to expenditures, the great majority will never "get it". I agree totally that any improvements to the rink is a "huge step foward."

JANESVILLE — No Verdi and no “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The Beloit Janesville Symphony announced Friday it has canceled its April concerts and July Fourth shows.
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How sad that once again music and the arts have to suffer. There seems to be no end to the support a junior hockey team gets in this community, while people that truly have a gift will not be able to share that with others because of a lack of funding.
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About the Symphony
Lewis Dalvit founded the Beloit Civic Symphony in 1954. It was then known as the Beloit Civic Symphony. By 1971, the Beloit Symphony was performing regularly in Janesville, and it then became known as the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra. Now we know it as the Beloit Janesville Symphony.

Since its founding, the symphony has grown from 35 players to over 80. The symphony performs 15 concerts each year in Beloit and Janesville, Wisconsin. www.beloitjanesvillesymphony.org

I think that we should have a junior team so taht the kids that want to play or watch can close to there home town. Not have to go hours away just to play when they can have one in Janesville. Agree? yeah i thought so

Junior hockey teams work in cities in Wisconsin like Green Bay, Hudson, and even SPOONER! Who says it can't work in Janesville?

It's the start of a dynasty.

So try outs are in June right? I better start getting my tickets now before the season starts. Game on! Lets go Janesville!

The ideas of the City using Leisure Services budget to fund Janesville schools or to fund programs for enticing businesses and factories back to Janesville so that more/any jobs are available are very commendable ideas. SORRY,"it just don't work that way." I can see how several bloggers don't understand how government and/or businesses handle budgeting and money allotments. It's not easy. If it were only so simple as to use the money toward the rink for schools or use road repair budget money for health care for children. Another example,why businesses can expand, yet not give employees even a decent cost of living raise. Each city, state, municipality or business takes total income and budgets it out to different areas/departments. Employees are paid from the Payroll account and NOT from the building/expansion account, or the utilities account. Sad but true. Leisure Services budget is a separate entity than that of the school system budget, which also gets subsidized from the State of Wisconsin. Each govenmental department simply does not "share" money with another department. Yes it would be wonderful but it doesn't work that way. Would the county transportation department use budgeted monies to help the health and couhty human services departments for example? How about the Federal Justice Department using budgeted monies to fix the highways or Social Security. It is unfair to imply that somehow endorsing sports will shortchange our children's education. There has been and always will be the sports versus arts versus academic arguement. Please don't confuse the issue of "what money goes where". Unfortunately government and businesses don't run their budgets like our household budgets. Maybe if they did, everyone would be happier, but I doubt it. People have and always will spend money acording to what is important to THEM and as everybody is different, each will have a different opinion as to how to spend it. It's the way of life, let's just move on now that the City has made it's decision. Enough already.

Your concerns go way beyond Janesville. Your new President will fix everything, though. Until then, life is too short...see at the rink.

Shhhhh, you are making too much sense. Their heads might blow up.

JOBS - Did I hear jobs again? How about returning the jobs that we now outsource to Oshkosh and Madison for health services. If the current Health Care building cannot be used...find a different building. We send jobs to other countries - sad! Also, send them to other counties - sad! The rock county board needs to return the services to our area.

Bon Voyage....see you at the rink

As school lets out this year we will be saying goodbye to many friends and families as they migrate to where the jobs are. Too bad Janesville can't come up with something better to keep them here. As the population decreases the taxes on those who remain will rise to off set it and we will lose more families. Too bad. Hey what the puck, we can all sit around and watch the kiddies live out their fantasies on ice right?

If you really want to make a kids dream come true, take that money and invest it in EDUCATING the young people in this community. Make education a higher priority than sports, encourage colleges/universities to give as many full scholarships for academics as they do for athletics and hopefully those STUDENT athletes will realize that they are going to college for more than just hockey.

It's great to hear positive blogging about fixing up the present rink and bringing in the junior hockey team. ERStettin, doseman95 and jvlsportsfan.....you go guys. However, the rink improvements/updates will not JUST benefit the sport of hockey but also the sport of figure skating. Although there long been a needless unspoken adversarial relationship between hockey and figure skating and Learn To Skate programs, these programs and skaters will also benefit from the updates and improvements to the rink. ANYBODY who loves to skate, be it hockey, figure or speed skating or recreational skating will benefit. What seems to get lost with all the negative bloggers is that an updated, safe, better maintained rink will benefit ANYBODY who chooses to use the rink for whatever purpose, including birthday parties for children or Girl Scouting/Boy Scouting events or school incentive parties. There are SO many possibilities uses for updated rink that I would not possibly list them all. The rink NEEDED to be update and better maintained and if it takes a junior hockey teams interest in Janesville's rink to get the ball rolling....great.

wait three years until our economy comes back and see if we can afford it then but to commit to spend over a million dollars on something like this is just not right.

I agree jvlsportsfan.

For me, this is an investment in our kids futures. They need a team and facility like this. It provides opportunity for them and something to strive for in their future.

Do well in High School hockey, you could play juniors in your hometown. If you do well at the junior level, you could get a scholarship to play in college. Do well there, you might be able to make pro. It keeps their dreams alive.

A junior hockey team would be the greatest thing to happen to janesville since sliced bread. You know how many high school hockey players have their dreams cut short because there is no where around here to go play after high school? Too many. Being a bluebird alumni, I would've loved a junior hockey team close by so I could continue playing after high school. I had a dream to play college hockey, but that was cut short because I didn't play junior hockey. These days colleges don't give you a look without playing junior hockey. It's pretty much impossible to play any level of college hockey without at least one year of junior hockey. You know how many kids want to continue with there hockey careers? A lot. People need to realize that kids have dreams they want to fulfill. Didn't you have dreams when you were younger? There is one high schooler in janesville right now who played junior hockey before and after the high school season. He's a senior at craig and recieved honorable mention all state honors. After talking to him, he said junior hockey was the greatest thing he's ever done with his life. He loved it! He wants Janesville to get a team because he won't have to move far from home and this team will open more oppurtunities for him. He wants to continue his dream. How are people going to say no?

hkykid02 : remember... it's not icing unless I raise my arm !!! See you next week

hkykik02, and in 2-3 years, when the hockey team has moved on, we haven't replaced any of the GM jobs, and the $1.5M spent on the rink should have been used to provide incentives to bring businesses and living wage jobs to the town, I promise I won't say I told you so. Have fun at the ice.

I think it's funny how all of the people opposed to this decision are still complaining and saying the same thigs they have been saying for the last few months. Well, news for you: the decision has been made and it's over! Nothing you say is going to change the fact. Give it up haha oh and by the way doseman: hell of a job last night (you should have called that icing though ;) lol).

I just wanted to add one more thing. Obviously, many people are concerned about getting new companies, manufacturing jobs, etc, etc. into this community. As we all should be concerned with. If a new company is looking at cities, they are also going to look at what the city has to offer. If the city has little to offer (which is the mentality this city has lived on for many years), companies aren't going to be attracted to us as an option. Chain restaurants and dollar stores aren't going to cut it. We need options for entertainment also. I realize with the way times are now, that his hard for many to swallow. That is understandable. However, some risks will need to be taken in order to draw people in. Those risks are going to cost us tax payers a little money.

lovemycountry-Well, private funding of a public facility, isn't going to happen. To the rink or all the other public facilities for that matter. Mothballing the rink is also not an option to the many that use it. The money being spent has been approved and it's going to happen. Time to move on.

spark - in a prosperous city, private funding will see the profit in an ice arena/hockey team. We can either spend the money now on a feel good notion, or use it to invest in attracting lost manufacturing to the city. Successful cities don't rely on state or federal government funding to attract jobs. That leaves the option of the rink being mothballed.

lovemycountry-That didn't answer my question. What is your solution to getting the proper upgrades that have to happen to the rink in order for it to stay running? By the way, so what you're saying is the city should be doing what it should have been doing MANY years ago. Getting other manufacturing jobs, etc. in this city instead of being married to a couple that we no longer have. Big mistake.

Spark, even in this economy, right now there are 50+ expanding companies in the U.S., each with 2,000 to 3,000 jobs, looking for a city to locate to. If the city has $200k+ or $1.5M to spend on skating rink repairs in the next few years, it should instead spend it on finding those companies, courting them, and providing incentives. This process is not easy, it's very competitive and takes a lot of money. These companies make location decisions based largely on the incentive package presented to them, transportation/roads, and on the local labor force. Their decision list does include community amenities, but it's #20 on the list and doesn't specify skate rinks. Bringing back lost manufacturing to Janesville and WI is how we'll prosper in the long run.

To all you negative rink bloggers: Great news. The updates to the rink have just created there first new job. I just got hired by the city to referee the Adult Men's league games !!!! They haven't even started construction yet, and were already creating jobs.

I have made this point, and I will make it again. The high school hockey program AND the proposed Jr. team kids (that are still school age) BRING money to the school district. Every time a child school choices to Janesville for hockey, the district gets money. If you let the ice arena go, the school will lose more enrollment and lose more kids....hense teachers. I am very glad to hear the public concerned about the schools and teachers. Janesville is a great district and the kids benifit from taxpayers that are concerned about their welfare.

lovemycountry-What is your solution to the repairs that have to happen just to keep the ice arena running? Other than brining in a team that will help generate the money.

The spending supporters on this remind me of how Bush got us into the Iran quagmire. Let's send 20,000 more troops, then get a report in 6 months to see how it's going. Here we have, let's spend $200k+, see if the team works out. Then $1M in 2-3 years for future repairs. Please choose the city roads now you don't want repaired in 2 years, because the money isn't there.

dkush21-The poll topic has already been debated.

Here is the Special Interest Groups at work at the local level.

Has anyone checked the poll "How would you characterize the base of users at the Janesville ice arena?" These are the TRUE votes of the public. So far, 81% say it's too narrow in scope.

As far as the renovation go's and the beer sales that many of you are stuck on, let's go over this again. The beer sales are for the Hockey League Games coming in. Do you think they're going to offer beer to the youth that are skating during open skate? The renovations have been needed for 20 some years and having a league come here, is simply getting the ball rolling for some of the renovations. If the league wasn't coming here and the updates were pushed, you would all still be complaining and want it shut down. The city should have updated the rink years ago and opted to spend the money elsewhere (bike path, etc). Now it's time, things are tight and everyone is freaking out. This reaction from many of you was so predictable the day they opted not to spend the money when they should have. How many times do we have to go over this?

Hallelujah MadeInUSA!! You have my vote on that one.

MadeinUSA-You didn't know the ice arena was public? Huh? Where have you been? You're right. It is your tax dollars. Just like my tax dollars go towards the parks and some things I don't use too.

"There's nothing for kids to do in Janesville."

If it's a renovation ..." for the kids" why does there have to be alcohol involved? Why is it only workable with booze sales?!

I did not know the Ice Arena was Public, like a park, that is supported by my tax dollars?! What in the heck is going on here? The school system is going to close one school and layoff teachers, but you want to re-build a recreation area with another bar in it, for a limited percent of the J'ville public interest?! Hell no!

one more word- REFERENDUM

Oh yeah- and having alcohol at youth games is just PLAIN STUPID!!!!!

this is just stupidity at it's finest. I mean this like an out of work GM worker building a pool in his back yard and charging it on a credit card and not having enough money in his budget to to clear the city streets of snow- er...... I mean plow his driveway.

Great idea ER teach em to skate..... better yet I wonder how many of these posters that are against the rink improvements / junior hockey team would take their kids to a public skate or better yet sign them up for the youth hockey in-house program, take them to a game when the season starts. Come down to the rink and see whats going on you might just have some fun.

ROTFL Daddy, that was funny.

lovemycountry,

I love my country as well. I just retired in June, after nearly 22 years active duty Army career. I chose Janesville as the place to retire.

There is alot that I like about this town. I like the bike paths, though I don't use them. I like the parks, though I don't use them either. I have no problem paying for them though. Maybe someday I will decide to start using these nice quality of life ammenities that my tax dollars pay for.

I do fully intend to use the hockey rink. So do my family and friends. I am going to vote for it and spend our money to do so.

I could teach you to play hockey if you like or even skate. Let me know. ;)

lovemycountry,

100,000 sperm and you were the fastest. God does have a sense of humor.

How is it ERStettin is spending your money? He is not on the City Council. Isn't he afforded the same rights as a tax payer in Janesville as you are, that is the right to a vote or say in the matter?

If he were opposed to a program you supported and you voted for it and he didn't, would you be spending his money then?

Show me the money.
All the city has to do is get 700 people to buy season tickets for two years to prove this is not a pipe dream and most taxpayers would probably say it's a go.
We can all say we are going to have the money to buy a ticket until that time actually comes and then dear taxpayer it is your problem.
The pay as you go system is proof that this project is a go.
We all want what is best for Janesville and the taxpayers that have made it such a great place to live.

Also ERStettin is absolutely correct...."The funds allocated to maintain this rink have been lacking. You can research and argue about why this is so, all you want; but it is obvious by just stepping into the rink and looking around." Yes, the rink needs MAJOR work but when any building is not properly updated and maintained over a course of 35 years....I can guarantee you that it will not look very good or run very smoothly at all. A new rink would be FABULOUS but I just can't see that happening any time soon. But then again, miracles do happen.

ERStettin, well, ok then. As long as YOU are for it, we should all pay for it ! Typical selfish spender of other people's money.

Oh thanks so much SarahB1 and terry. I haven't laughed so hard in quite a while. Your comments "Which little hockey player are you related to anyway?" and "she might date a city council member." are simply hysterical. I'm still laughing. You have no idea what you're babbling on about. I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE a brand spanking new rink like the rink Oregon Wisconsin just built recently to the tune of 3 million dollars. Yes, the present rink may be "a dump" but what exactly have YOU done to change things for the better. Exactly how much time to do you actually spend at the rink??? Did you help paint ceilings or walls or do anything besides complain to try to make it not so much of a "dump". Both of you must be living in some dream world if you really believe that Janesville's taxpayers would actually cough up 3 million dollars to buy a new rink. I'm still laughing about that. Are you planning on being the author of a petition to solicit funds for the building of this new rink. Best of luck with that. The present "dump" is not the ideal situation but it's what we have to work with right now, at this time, with our present crappy economy. Hey...anytime you want to build this new rink....I'm all for it.

PART 2

The argument made by some here, that we are in some way funding a private organization is ludicrous. We are not 'giving' them our money. We are paying for the improvements to OUR rink so they can use it and we can benefit from it.

I am not a fan of taxation. Particularly for programs that I don't support. However, I am a HUGE fan of hockey and want this team here. This team will improve the quality of life in this city.

As another poster mentioned, I don't think of Janesville when I think of hockey. I think of Minnesota or Canada. However, I don't travel to Minnesota or Canada when I want to watch hockey. I go to Madison to watch my kid skate, or Iowa for my other kid, or the Janesville rink to watch the High School team play. Now I can stay home, here in Janesville, and watch OUR NAHL team skate.

If you have never been to a Junior game, you are missing out. It is fun hockey. Players are playing for the right reasons...they love it. It is a higher level of hockey and something our communitys kids will now be able to aspire to.

I am also for serving beer at these games as well. If there are problems with patrons abusing it, toss them out. Just like anywhere else. I gurantee if you designate a beer drinking area in this element, you better make it a large area. The majority of fans will be drinking beer (myself included). No different from the Super Bowl Partys, Stanley Cup, World Series, ect.. It is going to be a place to relieve stress and have fun with your family and friends. I know this for a fact. I have been to many of these games in Iowa (where I moved to Janesville from).

gixxer,

My name is Ed, but my friends call me Ed. ;)

That statement you made, may very well be true, however, this IS important to me. For all the reasons I have stated previously. That is why I have spoken in favor of this proposal both on this blog and at the City Council meeting I previously attended. Both sides to the argument were presented and people from both sides were allowed to voice their opinions. I was one of them. How are they 'not going to the people first' as you say? These meetings are open for everyone in the community to voice their opinions and THEN the City Council votes.

The funds allocated to maintain this rink have been lacking. You can research and argue about why this is so, all you want; but it is obvious by just stepping into the rink and looking around.

I have NO problem paying my share of the tax burden to improve this rink, Janesville can attract a NAHL team to use the rink, and bring more money to our community as a result. This is going to increase the quality of life for us and many others.

We were initially talking about less than $10 over a 10 year note for every Janesville resident. That is rediculously small compared to what we are getting in return. I could careless if it grows to 3 million (as some have mentioned) as long as it all goes to the rink. I am all for it.

Worst case scenario the team leaves after 5 or 6 years (I hope not), we still have our improved rink. OUR money is not going anywhere. It is in OUR rink in OUR town for US to use. Get it?

PART 1

ERstettin; You may have missed the boat on has been going on in Janetsville over the past several years. Such as property taxes that keep being raised because someone in our city government wants to spend our and I mean our money on prodjects that aren't of importance especially when the city can't afford it. Then to compound it further, they do it without going to the people first.

In reference to another post by Beth Wheeloc
"City Council to prioritize stimulus projects".
Maybe we should let the Obama administration know how Janesville is really prioritizing.

I am off to change society as we know it, should be done by Thursday.

Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

And you wonder why Janesville and Wisconsin are in the RED and never have enough money for the NEEDS.

If we were to get stimulus money for this Junior Hockey League, Obama would be lol.

Good point, terry. I never thought of that.

she might date a city council member.

I say demolish it and put up an Olympic size sheet that will seat 4,000 or more, much like Waterloo or Cedar Rapids, IA and bring in a USHL team.

That won't happen until I win PowerBall.

Ed Stettin

maxine731: Which little hockey player are you related to anyway? You are what we used to call a "ringer" ... brought in to beef up the team when facing an extra-tough opponent. I had more respect for your postings until I looked at your comment history and found your fix-up-the-old-rink dance is the only one on your card. I still say that pouring more money into that too-small, aged rink is a waste. Hockey/skating families and the City Council need to come up with a better plan, one that is long term and reasonable.

What is lost by spending the money on OUR rink?

This rink is long over due for funds for upgrades and much needed maintenance. The rink is not going anywhere. The community still reaps the benefit of having a ice rink available to enjoy.

It is a long overdue investment in one of our community propertys that will continue to provide an increase in the quality of life for all residents here in Janesville.

Hockey familys from other communitys will attend these games and spend money here. I would like to know how this team coming to Janesville would NOT benefit this community?

If spending over a million is what is needed to fix the rink (never heard that figure, just quoting the previous poster), then I am for it. I am a tax payer and am willing to bear that burden. Our rink will not be going anywhere in the future. My kids and I will continue to use it and hopefully, a NAHL hockey team will as well.

Ed Stettin

Yes I may have moved out of town but I like getting on here and getting you all fired up. Janesville people are so predictable. Watch all the post that will attack mine. I will keep pushing your buttons because you will not be able to stop yourself from responding just as the city can't stop spending. Jr. Hockey dumb idea let the post start you can help yourselves. I will sit back and laugh at you come on you know you can resist go ahead I need a good laugh. Federal government and Janesville goernment what do they have in common spend money they don't have and don't care about the tax payer. Idiots.

This is going to lead to at least 1 to 3 million dollars more. Bash me all you want I will be saying told you so when this fails and you are stuck with the bill. Got to love Janesville spend spend spend it doesn't matter spend somemore. I would rather the money go to the schools to help there budget not a private company. best thing I did was move out of town.

My family and I want this team here in Janesville. I don't mind paying less than $10 over a 10 year period to have it, either. We have enjoyed Junior hockey in other communitys we have lived in the past and know how much fun it will be for those in attendence.

My son likes the idea of possibly playing for a team like this in the future as well. This is a GREAT opportunity for him to see what it is going to take to make it, right in his own back yard.

This town needs a team like this. I liken it to the Johnstown Jets of 1975 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. They brought a mining town together and provided an outlet for many of it's citizens, who after a long day at work, enjoyed attending the games and cheering their hockey team on, as they went on to win the championship that year.

With the lousy economy, GM closing, and everyone singing the blues, why not have a team like this for the minimal price of $10 over a 10 year period? It can only help our community.

Fans will stay at Janesville Hotels, eat at Janesville Restaurants, watch movies at Janesville Theatres and gas up at Janesville Gas Stations. This all benefits our community.

Also, why has the rink been allowed to become so run down? Is it because of the lack of support in the community by the naysayers in this blog? If so, this community is a community of ALL of us. Both hockey fans and not. We owe it to everyone in this community to keep our facilitys up for all to enjoy.

Spend the money to fix it and bring it up to date to where it needs to be. Lets make some good things happen for our community by bringing some money into the community, through the approval of funding his rink and bringing this team here.

Ed Stettin

Hey folks I have to go now, it was fun, like myself I think others like to use these blog sites to blow off a little steam because it's apparent that city council members don't want to hear us (we the citizens of Janetsville) Thanks Gazette for giving us this opportunity.

Well many people even the one's on this blog site might not be so upset if the city would have taken in to consideration, the thoughts and concerns of the citizens, by allowing them to vote on a referendum. They do this on other prodjects that they want lump sums of money, Why not this one ? Seems to me this is the matter of one cat licks the other.

The largest expenditure for most indoor ice rinks are the compressors and tubing necessary to make ice. The second largest expenditure is generally the support beams and trusses that are able to support a roof covering a minimal 125ft wide expanse. First lets get the ice and locker rooms in place. If things work out as well as everyone hopes, then perhaps improvements could be made to the actual building structure. The improvements to the Ice Skating Center is a huge step in the right direction, both now and for the future of Janesville.

gixxer-I don't complain about any of that stuff. The more things to do in this community, I'm for it. I may not attend it, but I'm ok with it.

gixxer- Come on man, take it easy. There's a lot of people that aren't capable of being in that position. You and I both know it. And I guarantee, GUARANTEE, people would then be bashing them too. It's the easy way out to blame others. FYI. If the city wouldn't have tried to save money by taking it away from the rink originally for other things (like many people are complaining about now), we wouldn't be in the situation we're in now.

But spark we need one at riverside too, why not help the city throw away a little more money too. If you know what I mean LOL

maxine731; I think some of us are too intelligent for that, These people(the council) have put Janetsville too far down the sh-tter for any one of us to brush it out.!

gixxer- You already have a beer fest at Traxler on multiple occasions with the corn roast, fourth of July, etc, etc. Hence my previous post.

maxine731-They'll never do it. It's easier for them to just go to this website and complain about everything.

Any of you continually negative bloggers with all your fanastatic ideas want to be on the city council and have as much fun as they do???Feel free to run for election. You have the same chance of winning as anyone else and will no doubt have the same support that is shown here to the current council members. Good luck with that.

Yeah!! A Hockey Team, that's a great idea! People will drive from all over to come to see the Janesville Hockey team. Because when you think hockey you think Janesville!!

Face it folk's we are all going to get screwed, it's what our Janetsville city council does best to all property owners. Maybe we should all get together request a big $200,000 beer fest at riverside park every year,(then we can eliminate the debate of serving alcohol)LOL ! Then we can invite the council members to come,so we can get them selzed and then throw their butts in the river. LOL !!! WE COULD THIS IS A NEED TOO.

Do those of you so against and stuck on the alcohol subject support the Traxler park festivities during the Fourth of July, etc? Just curious.

Steeber would vote yes anytime spending our money is involved. Add alcohol, He's there!

rooster-I'm a little confused why you and some others can't get past the alcohol thing and you keep stereotyping people that may have a beer at a game as "drunks". Very unfair and ignorant comment. Again, you and anyone else that doesn't like the council and how the work, has every right to try and get elected the next time around.

the spendaholics in janesville don't let the taxpayers down. beer shouldn't be a problem either since now the cops can stake out the games and arrest the drunks when they arrive/leave. vote the bums out, the city council bums i mean. this is another case where it dosn't matter what the majority of the city residents would like. gazetterooster@gmail.com

The council should be able to approve the license to sell beer at the arena. Some of the people that write in this little blog probably has never been to the ice arena. Yet they are harping about the cost.

What they should worry about the tunnel that is not necessary. To me that is a death trap in a down pour of rain.

SarahB1...I would absolutely LOVE to see a new rink be built in Janesville BUT.....do you REALLY think that Janesville taxpayers are going to fork over more than 3 million dollars to get that done? Not with the attitude of several of the bloggers I've read here. And while this "new" ice rink is being built....where do you propose the hockey teams skate or the figure skaters skate or any number of other users skate???? Skating on bad ice in a "dump"??? Sure...sounds good to me. I'll skate there when you do. I agree a new rink is warranted but can we at LEAST take care of NECESSARY repairs at the present rink until Janesville wins the Wisconsin Lottery and wins the 3 million dollars it will take to build a new rink. How about maybe future plans..maybe a 5-year-plan??? To please the masses....the City must take babysteps, one step at time please.

partarican1-How much more affordable housing do you need? Have you seen what you can get a house for in this town? It's not going to get anymore affordable than that unless you want free my friend. As far as social issues. We will always have social issues. That is part of life. In order to combat some of those, we need to take some risks to help better the community. This city has had the mentality of "we don't need" for too long and look where we are now. Look what we don't need anymore manufacturing because we have Parker Pen and GM, etc. got us. Time to dig ourselves out and take some chances.

I am not against a junior league team coming to Janesville. I've been to their games in Mason City, IA, and had an enjoyable time. What I am against, however, is wasting money on the old rink here in Janesville. Nobody that I know doubts for one second that the $200,000 is not going to lead to the $1 million total in city funding needed to keep that dump running. I say, as did CIM, run it until it dies and do it as cheaply as you can. In the meantime, begin planning for the next ice arena. To me, this is a lot of money to dump into a dying cause. To me, it is a PUCKUP at its worst. Either do it right or don't waste the money.

I applaud your zeal partarican1!!! I really do. It's wonderful to have caring people in the community. Yes...let's solve the homeless problem and get jobs and food for everyone AND while we are doing that with Janesville's tax money, let's have peace in the middle east and end the war in Iraq and any other number of worthy social issues. I'm not making light of this as I feel all the social issues you stated are very worthy but as I stated before....NOT everyone will agree on where to spend tax dollars EVER...That is a given...and has always been down through history. And the comment "the needs of the few versus the needs of the many" rings a bell. Oh, that's right, Mr.Spock out of Star Trek. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one" or in this case the needs of the few. Again....should the "needs of the few" forego any enjoyment that they get out of life i.e Leisure Services and focus solely on social issues, always. Sometimes people NEED a break.

I think this city should thank WHP for wanting to take a risk in calling Janesville home for a business venture in these economic times.We should all show are thanks by supporting this team 100% come game time.Remember without community support things like this are not possible.Keep your stick on the ice.

People will drink whether they can do it there or not. There is no difference between selling beer there or if they decide to drink at a bar before they go or in the parking lot before the game.Loosen your belt a little janesville.If not selling beer at the rink is the number one goal then you better make everyone take a breathalizer test before entry, because if people enjoy a drink every once in awhile this will not stop them from having one or two before the game.Might as well make some money doing it.

The poll is only 1844 people how does that count for everyone. There is over 60k people in Janesville. I know the poll doesn't represent my vote. Not everyone voted. I know I didn't vote I know other people who didn't vote and they would of voted yes along with my yes vote.

Amen cappyman! This town is pathetic when it comes to beer. I had a get together out of town last weekend and the people there think it is hysterical that Janesville is so strict on alcohol. Nowhere else in this state do you see the restrictions like you do here. And does it stop the drunk driving tickets, not from what I see in the paper. So my point is, if people want to get drunk and stupid, they will find a way. If there can't be beer at a sporting event because children are there, then all the alcohol needs to be removed from the restaurants in town. And if that happened, how many restaurants do you think would stay here? NONE! You want to raise some money, allow beer licenses for special events in the parks. It is sad when businesses take their picnics out of town because of the alcohol restrictions. I'm sure the other towns were happy to see them come in.

This issue is "needs of the few" vs. "the needs of the many". We need more jobs, food, and affordable housing in this community. Let's focus on that first. And then when we solve these and other social issues affecting us right now, we then can focus on entertainment.

Maxine731- How is bringing a hockey team to Janesville create enough jobs to make a difference? Is Janesville really a hub for ice skating/hockey? Roller skating/blading seems to be more popular in this town. The council should focus on how to create/bring lasting- not fleeting- jobs in/to the area. Do you really think a hockey team will bring in enough revenue to stay open for more than a few years? A new sports team is not the answer, it's a joke on the taxpayers of Janesville. The city would be better off if the people got to decide this one, and not the council. Did you not read the comments on the ice rink poll? I gather from all the postings that the majority of people responding do not want this to happen and feel it's a waste of cash, not just me.

I couldn't agree more Maxine! You rock!

for those who are so against beer sales. you need to step into reality. do not assume that everyone who enjoys a beer is a damn drunk. brewer games, packer games etc. are controlled. this whole thing about anything new in this town is bad is why this town is turning into a pile of crap. with nothing to do in this town for people that is what is going to breed problems. just give new things a chance or stay in your cave.

Anyone else, besides me, bothered by the fact that they need to sell beer to "make a go of the venture"??? Come on! If this was so popular, why would you need to sell beer to fund it? I wouldn't be bothered by it so much, but so much of the arguement has been to support recreation for the youth. Should alcohol really be served at a place that has such a focus on children?

Not a big fan of massive renovations to the current ice arena. That place is not in good shape. Instead of spending that much money on a band aid, a new hockey arena (up to 2 or 3k seats) should be built in town. And leave the current ice arena running until it dies. This would allow more ice time for the Bluebirds (or if Parker and Craig get their owns teams again), the J-Hawks, rec leagues, figure skating, etc to share between two rinks. And if done right, could bring in portable seats for end lines to host big basketball games and sectionals.

maxine731, thank you very much. I agree with you completely!

maxine731 - Thank you for your posts. Very well stated.

I'm sorry if it souded that way, I was just getting that comment from the paragraph that said ,Paraphrased, that having alcohol was the breaker for which the idea would fly!! I did not mean that everyone who drinks once in awhile are a drunk. But I've also been to sporting events that serve alcohol and there ususally are alot of out of control drunks. but again I didn't mean to encompass everyone.

whoanellie- Thanks for categorizing everyone that drinks a beer now an then as a drunk. Funny, my tax dollars are spent on a bunch of things I don't use (notice I didn't say wasted.)

To the comment regarding HUGE WASTE OF MONEY....It's all in how you view a "waste of money." Each individual spends money for what THEY consider important. What is considered important for one person may not be and probably isn't what the other considers important. That's called freedom of choice and we all have to live with choices. It sure beats the alternative. NO LIFE/NO CHOICES/NO FREEDOM.

It's unfortunate..but true, that there are those who are happy at the outcome and those who are unhappy at the outcome of the council's recent decision. I'm just relieved that a decision was made one way or the other and thankful that I don't have the job of being a representative on the council. There will always be those opposed to any spending of tax monies unless it's spent on what THEY consider important. Those that swim, support tax monies for a pool; those that bike, support tax monies for a bike trail; those that golf, support tax monies for golf courses; those that enjoy music and theater, support the arts. I don't understand and never will why simply because a person does not utilize a facility or service, tax money should not be used to support it. I'm not a senior yet either, but does that mean my tax money should not be used for upkeep of the senior center? I keep reading that there is such a small minority that uses the skating center. The same can be said for any Leisure Service program. A small minority utilize any given service....so does that mean cutting any taxes for Leisure Services and just close the whole department? I for one, do not want to sit in front of the TV and just view life....I'd rather get out of the house and enjoy the services offered by the city.

HUGE waste of money. Enough said.

Oh Yeah and don't forget the beer!! It just wouldn't be worth it if a bunch of drunks couldn't be there to "cheer" on the team!!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!! What a waste of my tax dollars!

Lets pay the city manager out of the profits from this White Elephant. He don't get paid until after we do. That is fair.

to the city council keep on spending that money . you must not watch tv. to see the tax payers dont have no money left. roads,tunnels,hockey teams,parks,you must learn to stand on your own legs and talk for the people.yuri grow a pair.