Spring Break
City might sell Hobbs Ice Arena
$80,000 deficit prompts city officials to consider raising fees for users of facility
Mark Schaaf
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Campus News
As the city of Eau Claire faces budget difficulties, the UW-Eau Claire athletics department is watching closely.
City officials have discussed the possibility of selling Hobbs Ice Arena, 915 Menomonie St., which faces an $80,000 deficit. A meeting is set up for Dec. 7 for "major users" of the building, which, in addition to the university's men's and women's hockey teams, includes area high schools and the Eau Claire Youth Hockey Association.
Users will discuss possible ways to increase revenue at Hobbs, which may include a hike in user rates.
"My sense is this could impact our ice hockey programs' budget," Athletic Director Scott Kilgallon said. "I hope not, but we'll know more after the meeting."
At a $110 an hour rate, the athletics department spends a total of $34,300 for use of the facility, which includes practice times and home games, Kilgallon said.
He also said he has been told a user fee increase of $20 would be a last resort, but it would force an increase of university spending by $4,600.
"We're in a budget situation; there are people who are going to get hurt," City Council Vice President Ray Hughes said, adding the city has higher priorities such as the police and fire departments.
"The one thing that will take the bottom of the list is that facility, which can be paid for by the user groups if they choose to."
The city subsidizes Hobbs for a total between $150,000 and $175,000 a year.
"Ideally what would happen is the user groups would form a coalition to lease the facility," Hughes said.
City Superintendent of Recreation Mary Hanson said the $80,000 deficit is not unusual for Hobbs.
"We aren't having any more difficulties than we've had at any other time," Hanson said.
Council member Bob Von Haden, who represents students living near Water Street and the Historic Randall Park neighborhood in District 4, said the issue has not been formally discussed in the Council yet and any sale would probably be a few years away.
"Some people say we should keep and attain it no matter what and some want to sell it tomorrow," Von Haden said, adding the Council may look at selling it to individuals "if the costs become prohibitive for the city to operate it."
Parks and Recreation department officials tried to cut spending at Hobbs by cutting a full-time maintenance position and replacing it with part-time Park and Recreation employees, but that position was restored by the city council.
That would have resulted in a net savings of about $50,000, Hanson said, who added they are looking to get ideas from the Council on other options for cutting expenses.
Von Haden said some members of the Council were concerned the worker's union would win a grievance with the city.
"We would be in a worse situation than we are now," he said. "It wasn't that they thought the basic philosophy … wasn't a good consideration."
City officials have discussed the possibility of selling Hobbs Ice Arena, 915 Menomonie St., which faces an $80,000 deficit. A meeting is set up for Dec. 7 for "major users" of the building, which, in addition to the university's men's and women's hockey teams, includes area high schools and the Eau Claire Youth Hockey Association.
Users will discuss possible ways to increase revenue at Hobbs, which may include a hike in user rates.
"My sense is this could impact our ice hockey programs' budget," Athletic Director Scott Kilgallon said. "I hope not, but we'll know more after the meeting."
At a $110 an hour rate, the athletics department spends a total of $34,300 for use of the facility, which includes practice times and home games, Kilgallon said.
He also said he has been told a user fee increase of $20 would be a last resort, but it would force an increase of university spending by $4,600.
"We're in a budget situation; there are people who are going to get hurt," City Council Vice President Ray Hughes said, adding the city has higher priorities such as the police and fire departments.
"The one thing that will take the bottom of the list is that facility, which can be paid for by the user groups if they choose to."
The city subsidizes Hobbs for a total between $150,000 and $175,000 a year.
"Ideally what would happen is the user groups would form a coalition to lease the facility," Hughes said.
City Superintendent of Recreation Mary Hanson said the $80,000 deficit is not unusual for Hobbs.
"We aren't having any more difficulties than we've had at any other time," Hanson said.
Council member Bob Von Haden, who represents students living near Water Street and the Historic Randall Park neighborhood in District 4, said the issue has not been formally discussed in the Council yet and any sale would probably be a few years away.
"Some people say we should keep and attain it no matter what and some want to sell it tomorrow," Von Haden said, adding the Council may look at selling it to individuals "if the costs become prohibitive for the city to operate it."
Parks and Recreation department officials tried to cut spending at Hobbs by cutting a full-time maintenance position and replacing it with part-time Park and Recreation employees, but that position was restored by the city council.
That would have resulted in a net savings of about $50,000, Hanson said, who added they are looking to get ideas from the Council on other options for cutting expenses.
Von Haden said some members of the Council were concerned the worker's union would win a grievance with the city.
"We would be in a worse situation than we are now," he said. "It wasn't that they thought the basic philosophy … wasn't a good consideration."
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