This morning I received a call from a prestigious real estate developer. After pleasantries we touched on the All Events Center , or whatever it’s called that is being readied to shove down the throats of the citizens of this city like a teaspoon of Caster Oil.
We talked about the “horse people” who come here with their steeds to jump fences and do whatever else they do. One of the things they do best is spend money….they leave a lot of cash in this town in housing and dining. First of all, it takes a lot of money to maintain a horse and those who haul these magnificent beasts around the country have the funds to play that game. Hockey….I’m not so sure.
What we have here is a group who are used to getting whatever they want, and what they want most is to build a very large edifice downtown or on the fringe of the loop for their kids to play hockey in…and they want to be very comfortable sitting there while they watch their progeny wack a puck across the ice. Oh I forgot…they want you to pay for it.
I am not against this wet dream, I am against over building it to the point it too will suffer from excessive operating cost as related to possible income…much the same as the Park Inn Hotel. The people living here will not be responsible for any short fall related to the hotel, but that will not hold true with the hockey rink. Your property taxes will increase. What I envision is this; the council will try and raise the taxes before it is built so after the lights go out the increase will already be in place.
What drives people most? Money is in first place, sex comes in second, the rest isn’t important. There are more than one who served on the mayor’s handpicked committee who expect to directly profit from this aberration in some form or another. When you get into the millions of dollars and locals dip their hands into the bucket, more than a few dollars will stick to these hands, and that is OK but it should not be the basis of decision. If commissions are to be paid, it’s better if they are paid locally, if material needs to be supplied, it’s better if it is supplied locally……as long as everything is open to fair bidding by anyone who wishes to offer a quote, and the winner is not decided behind closed doors.
One last thought; if there is to be a committee, it should be picked by someone not affiliated with government, it should be a citizen’s committee made up of local taxpayers who are vetted throughly to verify they have no dog in that fight., and not hand picked individuals who bow to Mr. Six-pack.
Peter Children
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Why don’t you call the police/
To: anonymous
Do you laugh? Is there not an ounce of humoer anywhere in you. Lighten up….or is it just me you dislike?
Peter. Your statement about a city of 28000 and people who are from the olive groves are out. In that statement your trying to say that people with your heritage and background don’t play hockey and the people that do are masochists. I find these statements racially biased. I know for a fact that there are many people from all different religions and backgrounds that enjoy and participate in sports that a proposed arena would house. I would venture if you looked or asked that you would find many people in mason city with your same heritage and religious beliefs that send their kids to participate in these sports. Instead of being ignorant and making it racial. You should just say that you are opposed instead of stereotyping.
I forgot one thing; those visions you said I suffer from; my most frequent is the one where the bus runs over you, and they take you to Dave Moore.
In writing news, sources are important. Many people do not want their name in print because of reasons known only to themselves. I honor that as I am certain you would do the same. People send me anonymous information to my box number, (Box One) these are communications not meant for general circulation. Why do they do it? Because deep down inside they like you want the real truth to be exposed. Thank you for understanding
Peter why would a prestigious developer call you? People know that you talk to Tom Jolas so why don’t you admit it. My theory is because Tom really wouldn’t want people to know that he is giving you information. Plus if it isn’t Tom Jolas that you are talking to why wouldn’t you tell us who it is. Otherwise this could be just anther one of your dreams or visions that you have. I would think you would want to add some credibility to your story.
I clearly stated I received a call from a “prestigious developer”, any conclusion you may draw upon that are of your own making. Communities benifit from constant change; having said that, NIACC will balk if there is an autitorium in the plans so that feature will need to be disguised as a very large room with a lot of seating. Two sheets of ice will be needed they say. This is a town of 28,000, no one in the olive oil and garlic crowd even know what hockey is about, they don’t play hockey in the olive groves…so we’re out. That leaves only those into masochism. Good luck.
This is a pipe dream. I predict it will never be built!
They should not spend any money in preparation of this project until they have the approval of the taxpayers of Mason City.
This should be put up for a VOTE of the people of Mason City to issue General Obligation Bonds.
Taxpayers, ready your petitions demanding a vote on the issuance of General Obligation Bonds!!!!!
Memories of the hoodwinking the taxpayers got from the Southbridge Mall project is still very fresh.
Southbridge was not supposed to cost the taxpayers any money but we all got stuck paying off the General Obligation Bonds that was supposed to be paid off with TAX INCREMENT FINANCING money.
To many Mason City Citizens are still mad at being forced to pay of the Southbridge Bonds and will not approve another boondoggle like the Events Center or whatever you call this new pipe dream.
You can’t just pick willy nilly when the public should be allowed to directly vote on purposals. The public had their say during the election process.
Mr children instead of prestigious developer. Why don’t you just say you talked to tom jolas.
Because Peter has a huge freakin ego, and loves to name drop and link himself to other people with huge egos. Tom Jolas = Prestigious ? What kinda math are you using on that one?
If Peter had a bunch of friends that liked to spend time with him and listen to everything he has to say, he wouldn’t be treating this site as if it was his personal blog.
Remember Tim Latham who was an original member of the advisory group and who also owns multiple properties next to the proposed site was just placed on the environmental oversight board by backdoor. Could this be you scratch my back ill scratch yours. How this project grew from a multipurpose center, to a hockey rink,to a two sheets of ice hockey rink is taxpayer funds being wasted at its worst. If private enterprise wants to build it great but if its taxpayer supported it needs to go to a vote.
Typo on comment. Should read of the original members.
Another point is of the original four members when asked if the taxpayers should be able to vote on this four said no. Turncoat is already preparing to bring this forward. Tif will be drained. Tif supplies the general fund which helps offset property tax increases so no tif higher taxes.