MASON CITY – It took awhile, but finally this weekend the Mason City Youth Hockey Board publicly endorsed the proposed Renaissance Project and its arena in Southbridge Mall.
Voting on the issue opened up early last week, and dozens of votes have already been cast. The Renaissance Project, which includes a multi-use area that will only allow ice for a fraction of the year, has been pieced together in various forms for years.
Saturday, the Mason City Youth Hockey Board of Directors released a statement of support for the project:
The Mason City Youth Hockey Board of Directors strongly supports the Downtown Rennaisance Project. As an organization we have reached a point in our history that requires a major investment in order to preserve ice sports in North Iowa. Nearly three years ago we began the process of planning for the installation of a new ice making system and various other improvements at our existing facility at the North Iowa Fair Grounds. At around that same time, the opportunity arose to leverage the major capital investment we are facing with the potential Iowa Reinvestment Grant. We believe the downtown arena not only meets our needs as an association but it would also provide a state of the art venue capable of handling large community events and/or conventions. In its central location in the heart of the reinvestment district and downtown we believe it will greatly enhance our visibility and allow us to grow sports tourism in North Iowa. That growth would not be possible in our current location. Additionally, if Mason City Youth Hockey were to relocate downtown, our current facility at the Fairgrounds would be freed up to host additional agricultural based programs and events year round. We urge the voters of Mason City to help us preserve Youth Ice Sports and grow tourism-please vote YES!
The Youth Hockey association is on the hook to contribute $2 million in funds and equipment to this project. Some citizens have noted that the initial contribution to the project was always said to be a $2 million cash contribution via a fundraiser. Now, that has been modified to be only partial cash with the rest being “equipment” which has not been listed specifically.
Show us the money. VOTE NO!
Don’t blow your cookies – say it’s possible 100 players went to big college on athletic grants – major/beball -secondary basket weaving – end of 4 years = 2 millionaire beballs and 50 basket weavers – 40% drop out rate – going on since I can remember in the 50’S – Goodness gracious – GREAT BALLS OF FIRE !
very doubtful the youth hockey will come up with anything close to 2.000.000. That’s a lot of cookies or rummage sales
What choice did the Hockey Association have? This is a late endorsement. If this is such a good deal they would have been in the rah rah mode a long time ago. WE ALL SEEN HOW COUNCILMAN KUHN GOT TREATED WHEN HE DIDN’T FALL IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE MOB! If the Hockey folks didn’t endorse they too will be shunned!
All I can hope is that the taxpayers of Mason City turned down the .67 tax levy in a vote a few months back. We can only hope that that same common sense goes to polls for this tax grab.
The biggest problem with this project from the get-go is the benefit is only for a few hundred people. The rest of community will not see one bit of benefit from it, only a property tax increase.
$26,500,000 of debt and risk makes this one of the worst hair brained schemes that has EVER been proposed in Mason City.
I have to vote NO!
If they want a hockey rink let them pay for it themselves.
If they want a hockey rink let them pay for it themselves.
Where do we vote on this hockey arena crap?
You are always quick to call people names and label things.
You have to be registered to vote.
Remember hockey moms in the eighties running around town begging for money and or advertisements. Quite a joke actually. Look how that all played out….where is it now?
The pro Project people Should simply be the ones to Be taxed And whatever fees needed. Logically, They Are the only ones going to use it. I
Face It, this whole thing is only for a small group. They Sure didnt pick something for EVERYBODY. SELF CENTERED At its FINEST!
They think they have it bagged. They probably do because that’s how self centered and dumb there are, they are winners in everything. You all know the story…..those types always get what they want…UNTIL judgement day! Yay can’t wait!
Heard no one from the youth hockey was there at last public meeting. What took them so long? Is Booky telling them what to do?