I really don't think it matters to the council what we the citizens think, if they did they would have put it to a referendum to begin with! They need to realize that we don't have that kind of money just sitting there waiting to be used, and most of Janesville is out of work and having a rough time making ends meet as it is!

See how annoyed I am I lost my ability to spell check myself. Thanks a lot!!

Fire Station, my apologies. I was just annoyed taht my opinion was removed!!!

Seriously....my comment on holding off the new arena because they also put a new Fire Sation on hold was removed?!?!?!? Nice.

I realize that the cost of needed repairs necessitate the expenditure of substantial sums of money. What I don't know is the approximate cost per taxpayer?

The hockey rink provides a public service and as such I support the expenditure if it ranges to less than $100 per taxpayer.

Looking into the future, a new ice arena makes a lot of sense, as ice skating recreation needs more ice available at reasonable times.

About 25 years ago I started a beginning adult ice hockey program using indoor ice in Alaska. Before the season ended I had 80 adults playing hockey on a regular schedule. That league continues yet today.

My cardiac capacity improved, my weight dropped and I had lots of fun playing hockey with doctors, lawyers, mechanics, carpenters, realtors and homemakers, or in other words all of my neighbors.

Each participant learned some of the skills that their children already knew and enlarged their understanding of ice hockey.

I support a new rink in a centrally located area of the community, where children can safely bicycle to the facility, exercise and learn a sense of teamwork and a sense of community.

I agree. A freeze is exactly what the ice arena needs.

Starbuck1, wow, that's alot of anger when I specifically stated I wasn't out to start an argument. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, I don't know that I have specifically said anywhere that I think there has to be a new rink. However, if one does happen and it is owned by the users, there will never be enough residents that use the old rink to support it. It will shut down and be another huge eyesore in the city just like GM.

I don't want the bike path. I don't want the pool. I don't want the parks and I don't want all the other things you use that I don't. There, that's pretty simple right? Get realistic people. Actually, I don't mind paying a little tax for those things at all (regardless of whether I use them or not) because they improve the quality and attraction of this great city we live in.

Starbuck1 - The little group? That's not how it works. You could say the exact same thing for many other items in the city that not all taxpayers want to pay for, but ended up doing so. Sorry, you don't get to pick and choose.

Ilovehockey: Youth Hockey committee member Larry Squire told the City Council this past Monday " ... the committee has had 'good conversations' with potential donors, but to date, no one has stepped forward with a significant pledge ...". No other information regarding the lack of pledges was given, but most of us outside the committee are probably right to assume today's economy is affecting the fund drive. I also assume (and I may be wrong) that the six-week delay is so the hockey committee can get a measurement on other possible funding sources. Also, I would think part of the reason the JPAC got partial financial backing from the city was because the economy was much stronger back then. It's unfortunate for hockey players, fans, etc., but that is reality for now. If it wasn't for the Jets contract, I don't even know if the city would want to repair the old rink.

Starbuck1, nowhere in my post did I state YOU questioned our morals, Wahoo_35 did, and I was responding to him/her.

What I have been trying to say in my posts is that if the final decision is that the rink has to be built with all private donations, then the residents of the city will not have alot of say in the workings of the rink. Do the residents get to choose where the next restuarant goes or any other privately owned business? No, so therefore they also wouldn't get a say in eastside vs westside vs downtown. However, if the final decision is that the City will be involved, then yes, the residents do have some say.

I'm not trying to start any arguments, I'm just stating that while those of us who love the rink for many different reasons, we did not always agree with other items the council did okay. JPAC is something that my family doesn't use, but the city gave them alot of money. That doesn't mean I hold a grudge against those who love attending the events at JPAC. Its just not for me. However, in the big picture does it make Janesville a better more diversified place to live, absolutely. Therefore, it will be up to the council to decide on the big picture.

Pete - It's not going to cost $100 a taxpayer. I have no clue where you go that figure, but it's wrong.

hockeymomsrule; there is a BIG difference in "giving" land that is already bought & paid for from shelling out 2 million dollars. what makes hockey so "special" - JYF financed & built their own field for football, JYB is going the same for baseball & so is the proposed skatepark. Back in the 80's BMX was huge here and the city let a group utilize land at what is now Rotary Gardens but they didnt pay for all the improvements & operations. Shouldnt the city donating the land be enough just like these others? What makes hockey different from say, roller skating - which should I remind you was a completely private venture in this city for what 30 years.

I know I will not be the popular opinion on this thing, but...I will say it anyway. Absolutely, people will come to Janesville if we don't build a new rink. I really don't think that is the point of this disccusion, the point is to build a new rink or not?? Here is my question, why would you dump alot of money into an old rink? It makes no sense. This isn't some historical building that we would like to renovate that was built in the 1800's. It is a 30 year old building that has been signifiantly neglected. Absolutely, you can put money into it to update it, but is that a smart idea? Building a new building is what makes sense. Would we have just shut down the ball diamonds and said, "oh, well we don't need them anymore?" No more youth baseball, sorry kids. Seriously, that would never happen. As I hope that would never happen with the ice rink. That building is in seriously neglected shape, it looks great after the renovation, but that was cosmetics....the roof leaks so bad that the hockey club had to put their equipment up all off of the floor, the freon/cooling system has been band-aided for now, but who know when it will go down next, the water leaks in on the front side of the building so bad that the equipment often is froze to the floor during the winter, when the concession stand was removed from its old location it was discovered that ants had drilled right through the bricks into the building. I am sure that is not the end of the needs, just the things I am aware of. It will cost you more to build the rink later. Why dump good money in to update the rink?? Makes no sense, neither does just throwing the rink away altogher. Yes, JYHC is hoping to partner with the city. It is a good proactive move. I get it people are without jobs, we have had unemployment in our home for months. We haven't quit doing things we enjoy because of it. In fact, enoying a sport we love with our kids who also love it has kept us sane and positive in a very bad economic time for our family.

Starbuck1, I agree with the intial comment, it probably isn't fair, but to then go on to say that if the council okays the rink and not the skatepark somehow our values are questionable and we are harming our childrens morals is utterly ridiculous and uncalled for.

As for unidentified, the 1.3 million has always been there with or without the Jets. It is to fix the cooling system among other things, which would need to be done to support the current users including youth hockey and high school teams.

When this new ice hockey team first came to light, the cost to the city was going to be around 200,000 to make changes to the ice arena. How we've managed to jump to 1.3 million is beyond me. The fact that we're even discussing a hockey rink when 20% of Janesville's population is below poverty level is mind boggling.

Wahoo_35, really? Just because the city took it out doesn't mean that we didn't support it. I like to support many different things in this community that I personally don't use. So I wouldn't be so harsh on what we teach our kids, because you don't have a clue!

I enjoy watching kids skateboard. Seeing them practice and get better at a safe place. But it seems like I am the only one since the city cut the funds for a park for these kids. I hope you people enjoy your rink just know that some kids will not get to do the things they enjoy just so your kids can. I am not sure what kind of values you install in your kids. I am just glad I am not one of you.

Ilovehockey, your last line is so true. No matter what direction the ice arena debate goes, someone will not be happy. I like watching youth hockey. With a junior hockey team , boys and girls hockey, youth hockey, adult hockey league, figure skating club, individuals looking for time to practice and of course open skate there are only so many hours in the day to get all those people ice time. A new ice arena will help those issues. I think a new arena will also help the popularity of ice skating. I am sure there are options of getting a new facility. I would think a private/city collaboration would be best. If private builds new, what would the city do with the old? Why not put the same city money into new. The city may need to add, but the city does get more benefits from the arena than just admissions. Do you know not only will the Jets bring people to Janesville, but the youth league also hosts tournaments? The arena also has camps during the summer which again, draws out of towners. People will spend money at businesses all around town, much like the water ski tournament.

Put it to a vote. Wait until the next normal election Janesville votes on and add a referendum to the ballot. I would vote no to any funding.

jd1965, my comment was in regards to the statement made by ja67, who stated that the private group should pay for the entire thing. ja67 then stated that it should go on the west side. My point was that if the private groups pay for the entire project, then the city and its residents will not have the same amount of input as if the city invested the 2 mil. My comments also werent directed to the downtown area, but to Rockport park location which ja67 also stated.

I am not against the downtown area at all, if the land can be found. But to state that it should go to the westside, then you get arguments from the eastside. But again, this input will only be relevant if the city indeed invests in the new rink.

Even before the Jets officially dropped the puck last weekend, they were a help to downtown. I spoke with many families who had stopped by the Farmers Market when boys were in town for the tryouts. Alot of people commented on how nice Janesville is.

Hopefully a solution will be found that can make the majority happy. To think that everyone will be happy is unfortunatly not going to be the case.

The ice rink improvements, or a new arena, will likely be a bond issue instead of coming from the general fund. As such they will be paid off over a number of years. Overall borrowing has gradually increased but not substantially, since older bonds are retired as newer ones are issued.
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I doubt the council wants to spend money, but they know that the current rink is at the tail end of its lifetime, so considering whether to improve or replace it is pretty much unavoidable.
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As to whom the arena serves, keep in mind that the team only uses it a few hours a week. The rest of the time is everything from free skate to the Janesville Bluebirds as well as youth hockey and figure skaters.

It's hard to engage someone who makes a comment unless you are also a commenter.

In response to ilovehockey: if the city is being asked to fund half of this project to the tune of at least $2 million, then yes the taxpayers do need to have some say about the location, no matter who is running the arena. And in regards to the point about "the east side being the most logical because of access to the interstate", I have timed the drive from the Racine street exit to the sports complex, and to the current location downtown. The difference is 3 minutes. Is the suggestion teams won't come to tournaments because of an extra 3 minute drive?
I will concede that the east side location will be more "shovel ready" in terms of space and utilities. However, an investment this size by taxpayers needs to benefit the whole city. We need to draw traffic into the city, not just the outskirts. If the Jets are a success, and I hope they are, wouldn't it be a boon to the downtown or west side and perhaps spur new additional development in areas that badly need it?

Pete: Where did you get the figure of $100 per property tax payer? That seems inflated. I don't recall that we've reported any estimated taxpayer costs, but I'm sure we will in the future if they get closer to striking a deal on a new arena.
Greg Peck

I think giving the committee time is better than making a decision now. This is not a great time to be thinking about new ice arenas. Maybe later.

Like I said before give them the old rink or nothing. Cut our losses.

If the final decision is that a private group runs it, then don't expect to have alot of input on where it goes. The eastside is a logical location because of the close access to the interstate, as teams come from all over to play.

My concern with going with the 1.3 investment is that remodeling the rink is just like doing your house, you budget for one amount, start digging in and find more that needs to be fixed. By the time you are done, you are overbudget, so you may as well have paid for the new facility.

Either way something needs to be done, it would be nice to have locks on the bathroom stall doors!

I feel that if a private group wants a new ice arena, they should seek private donations to cover the full cost of the arena.

As for as the old ice arena, repairs can be made to keep the arena running. It'll cost a lot less then a new arena. Also, we something on this west side of town, seems that every thing goes to the east side.