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Politics & Government

Albertville City Council Sets $600,000 Goal for Hockey Group

A week after St. Michael said it would ask the hockey association to raise $1 million, Albertville came forward with a much lower number.

With a goal set by St. Michael, it was Albertville's turn to put a number out for the St. Michael-Albertville Youth Hockey Association as it begins to fundraise for a second sheet of ice. 

The Albertville City Council discussed what amount they would be comfortable bringing to the arena board next week at length Monday night.

“Interest rates have gone up since we put together the original proposal.” Larry Kruse, Albertville city administrator shared with the council as he walked the council through some scenarios of funding split between the cities, arena board and potentially the St. Michael-Albertville School District.

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Jill Schommer started discussion by throwing out “$1 million community fundraised. I’d be comfortable with that.”

That amount is on track with what St. Michael City Council agreed to and is bringing to the arena board meeting next Monday. But Larry Sorenson disagreed. “I think $1 million is too high. Let’s go lower and ask for an annual contribution.”

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John Vetsch has continued to be an advocate for getting the school district to contribute. “The school needs to be a big player in this. This is for the kids.”

Dan Wagner reminded Vetsch, again, that “the school already has told us where they stand, and they have no money to put in right now.”

Vetsch seemingly won’t take no for an answer. “The school needs to make it happen. They’ve got 10 acres [of extra land]. I’m not telling them how to run their business but they do have options. They built these schools, brought people here, raised the taxes, they need to be part of this.”

“If the school can’t come up with money, it falls back on the cities of St. Michael and Albertville.” Wagner explained.

Sorenson tried to bring the conversation back. “We’re looking at the stripped down version right now. The hope is that the school can help down the road with seating and locker rooms.”

He then shared with the group how he believes a $600,000 up front contribution from the hockey association is fair. “We can then ask for an annual contribution adding up to $400,000 over time.”

This would be equivalent to adding an additional fee to hockey families fee’s each year of between $50-$100.

At the end of discussion, the council agreed that council members Sorenson and Wagner would bring their recommendation of $600,000 up front and $400,000 over time contribution from the hockey association to the arena board meeting next Monday.

 

 

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