Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Rodeo management plan still in question

Hailey Ice expects $2-3 million donation


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

As Hailey voters consider funding a $3.5 million bond issue this month to pay for redevelopment of the town's historic rodeo grounds, long-term management plans for the $7 million facility are coming together at City Hall.

It will take "yes" votes from at least two-thirds of Hailey voters casting ballots on Tuesday, May 25, to pass the bond. If it passes, Hailey residents will see a tax increase of $33 per $100,000 of property valuation. The tax increase would last for 10 years, the time required to pay off the bond.

The bond would pay for about half the costs of a new rodeo arena, covered ice rink, an expanded skate park and visitor center.

County Commissioner Tom Bowman told the Hailey City Council last month that he felt the city was not prepared for the bond because a plan for maintenance of the facility had not been established.

On Monday, City Administrator Heather Dawson issued a news release stating that the new rodeo arena would be managed with user's fees of $250 per day, plus additional charges for lighting and cleanup.

Hailey Public Works Director Tom Hellen said in an interview that his primary concern relates to the covered ice rink, which would be built for Hailey Ice, a nonprofit organization that has raised about $5 million so far for the rink.

"Ideally, either Hailey Ice or a board of some kind would oversee management of the rink," Hellen said. "It's on city property, so we would have something to do with it."

< Becki Keefer, project coordinator for the Parks and Lands Board, told the City Council last week that her board would consider taking over management of the entire rodeo grounds as a city park, but only if the management plan does not require a tax increase.

Hellen said he is eagerly awaiting an overall management plan from Hailey Ice to pay for refrigeration, lighting and other costs.

"Maintenance is not meant to be a burden to the taxpayer," he said.

Ron Fairfax, a longtime supporter of Hailey Ice inc., told the Mountain Express on Monday that an anonymous donation of $2-3 million dollars is expected with a few days.

"Most of that will be used in construction. Some of it will be put into an endowment to fund programs."

Fairfax said the budget for the second year of operation of the rink will be $557,000, He said $390,000 of that amount would be raised from user's fees, rentals and concessions between Nov 1 and April 1.

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




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