Ice Arena put on the fast track!
27 03 2008I have just received word that the Hamburg Town Council is putting the Jeff Walker proposal on the fast track. The Hamburg Recreation Department Citizens Advisory Board has been asked to attend an emergency meeting set for April 3, 2008 at 5:30pm, where we will be given the full information on the deal. I have been asking for the exact figures from Marty Deneke and Jim Connolly for several months but haven’t been given anything.
As reported earlier this project can make or break the current conservative Town Council members. If this works out then they look like geniuses, if not then their political careers are over. I’m told that Jeff Walker will not be at the meeting and Steven Walters and Ken Farrell will be giving the presentation and answering the questions. I’m not sure if this is open to the public but I will find out and let everyone know so you can attend if interested.
Why would the Town of Hamburg give Jeff Walker a business loan? Taxpayer money in funds cannot be used to grant a resident a business loan. This whole proposal is absurd!
We need to take back this Town from the GOP’s -let’s work to get Ford back on the side of God…… and the Dems. Ford is the Lynch pin in the GOP win, let’s make sure we have all of our ducks in a row next year. Bob Reynolds is ready to go…….
MRG…(gee I wonder who that could be!) I’ll have you know that he GOP has some very tough candidates lined up for the Board races next year. We’ll be able to pull it off without your paltry line…we did it last year.
We need more good men like you around. This site is brilliant !
How do you find time in your busy day to keep up with all of the new and exciting things that are happening in Hamburg ? This new supervisor and town board have got this place humming along like a well oiled machine. It is so exciting to see all of the new businesses (WalMart, xxxx,xxxx,xxx,) moving in to our town. When your town gets a new WalMart, that tells the world - hey look at us - we have a new WalMart. The future sure looks promising in the town that friendship built.
News Flash…………..
The Democrats are hoping that Steve Walters pushes this deal through, as it will blow up in his face and is a way of getting rid of him. If Walters only new who is really pulling the strings on this one. Talk about getting setup -LOL
What have you heard on this?
Honestly, if this deal is “pushed through” by Mr. Walters, he’ll have no one to blame but himself. This deal will blow up in his face!!
There’s no other way a deal like this could end up. The very sad part of this is that it will not simply end Mr. Walter’s political career, but it will saddle Hamburg’s taxpayers with an incredible amount of debt with nothing to show for.
I hope the Town Board reconsiders this ridiculous stunt.
This project will be very successful and the amount of outside visitors to this sports complex (Town) will only be a positive one for the businesses of the Town.
Thank god you negative people don’t have nothing to do with this Town. You all must be the ones that sit around Tim Hortons and talk like women do. You need to find something to do. This town is moving forward after being in reverse with Hoak running this Town.
Keep up the great work Steve and company….
Heard last night while out having a few cold ones (heard this before I had a few to many-LOL) that Joan is stepping down. Her game plan is to be the next County Clerk. Can anyone confirm this?
Hamburg Resident -I guess the success will equal the Sea Way Trail and all the people that use that facility-LOL Walters will lose reelection based on this stupidly-mark my words the Dems have a surprise for him. I hope Walters liked chasing ambulance because he’s going to have to go back and scratch a living doing the same. And the Hope kid - Smardz has done nothing other than become a rubber stamp for Walters. Can’t wait for the next Town election……. This Town was better run under Pat Hoak….
RH- I can tell you are old school. The time of the post tells the whole story, old people get up early. I loved when Pat Hoak was in charge. Buildings where empty, stores closing, business running out of Town. The only thing I remember was the old Hoaks building off of clark street, He really put alot of time and money on keeping that looking good. The F..ken place was a joke, just like when he ran the Town. It looked like shit and that was a focal point of people coming into the Town from Orchard Park. I am a Dem and the change is good for this Town. Lowes, Super Walmart, Strip plaza, are all positive for this Town. The rink as it sits is starting to look like the old Hoaks resturant-run down and looking like shit.
Lets take this as a positve thing. It is not working as is, so doing something outside the box might work. The amount of sports played in this area, only shows that it will work. The idea of a indoor field to support sports that can not be played currently in this Town in winter will be the main reason this facility will work. After looking into this idea and talking to some people, I have found out that other Towns have built similar recreation type facilities and leased them out to private people to run. Governments are not in business to run businesses.
If this fails and the Town then has to choose, either try to run it and make ends meet or go out and find another person to come in and run the facility. Someone said the Town would have nothing if this fails- That is not true we still have a facility for our KIDS to play in.
The Towns responsiblity is to provide services for its tax payers. This opportunity will help save the Town what they loose each year at the current rink.
You people should all move down to Florida and leave the younger population alone. When I get to your age I will move out to let the younger population do what is needed to get a better place to live. That is all this project is about, tring to get something new at a cheap cost.
No Government will ever do everything right, but at least this one is tring to change things for a positive and not just sitting back and watching.
Keep up the good work
wow…….. who could Hamburg Resident be????? A Dem supporting Walters? hmmmmmmm I wonder…. could it be…. no couldn’t, could it?
William,
You hit the nail right on the head. Once your town gets a new “Super” Walmart, you know you have made the big times. Every hicktown from Bugtussle to Ziamba has a friggin Walmart. You call that progress ? Is this government really “tring” to change things ? Yessir - front page news - a Walmart & a Lowes ! WHOOPEE !!!
Keep up the good work
I agree with the Rodent
What is Jeff Walker’s business experience? I’m pretty sure he has had a lot of failed business ventures.
Who cares, if he can get the Town to front him 10 million bucks, I’d say he has experience enough !!! $$$$$$$$ show him the money…….
Before I get started on my response to the comments that where posted after mine, I have one question.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THAT BIG HILL THAT WAS PUT ON AWESOME RECREATION PROPERTY. I THINK THAT WAS OK’D BY THE HOAK ADMINISTATION. THAT WAS THE WORST DECISION EVER PUT THRU.—We can not do a f..ken thing with that land now. Why would anyone in there right mind even think about ok’ing that deal. Hold on I think I know the answer…..Money ended up in someones pocket. Everyone is talking about this deal that is being presented to the Town to help save the Town money and give our children a better place to play sports, BUT what the HELL happened to all that land, (10-15 acres). We lost all that land to what. We have not used that hill since it was made. We should be looking at ways to get that shit that they dumped there out and get our FLAT USEABLE LAND BACK…….
Ok onto my responses…
RODENT & RANDY–You need to read the whole message. It is not all about Walmart and Lowes. We already had a Walmart, that I think came in during Hoaks period and you all where there clapping for Hoak on getting that done. This is just a bigger and better location and helps to get rid of a HUGE EYE SORE, called the Brierwood Plaza, that got emptied during Hoaks Term. It is about bringing in businesses and not watching businesses leaving. Look at all the empty buildings that are in our Town. They did not get there during Steve’s term they came during Hoaks Term.
RODENT—Why didn’t you touch on the Hoaks Rest. on the busy corner off of Clark in Armor Duel area. What a eye sore that was…(It is still a eye sore because of a personal situation with the couple that bought it), but it still looks better then what Hoak had it looking like when it was open for business. Didn’t you see all those people where running there to eat, come on. I would love to eat someplace that looked like shit from the out side if I was a visitor to the area. THAT IS WHO WAS RUNNING OUR TOWN FOLKS.
Highway— Yes I am a Dem that is sick of the bull shit that has been in this Town for way to long. We needed some kind of change and maybe the Dems are watching and taking notes. They might learn something. I don’t vote or support by party lines, that is the problem in western NY. We all know that from everything we have seen the past 20 years, a city that needs help.
Anonymous—Sounds like this guy has a good idea that a lot of people like. I have started to hear tid bits around the rink, that people are getting excited for this proposal. Alot of people in and around the Hawks think it is long over do. I applaud someone that has ideas to make things happen that are positive for the Town, even though they don’t always come thru.
Steve and company keep up the good work of change.
Bill
Maybe the Town can front me 10 million bucks to start a business.
We need to rebuild the Dem committee; we have lost due to poor management of the committee. Who can take the lead on this one? I know Vince wants another crack at Walters, should we let him have on more shot?
I would like to see our people back in charge, maybe Jim Connolly can talk to Joan…….
As a Republican I’m considering a run for Town Supervisor, yes Walters will have a primary.
A GOP primary is a waste of good money-who do you think we are- Dems? Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama LOL
Dave Andrechuk played in the NHL for 24 seasons. He made $800,000 in his last season. Tell me again why we the taxpayers need to protect himinthis business venture?
JT, why would you think he would risk any of his own money when the Town will provide all the risk? I think he’s a good businessperson to see the value in this deal…
This whole idea/proposal is absurd. The taxpayers hard-earned money wouldn’t be protected by the Town leaders. Why would anyone think it is ok to enter into this agreement?
hmmmmmmm
You people have to know the facts before you have your thoughts. You all sound pretty stupid right now. Learn the fact before opening your mouth. DONT WE TEACH OUR KIDS THAT AS WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN. There is really no risk to the town people from what I understand. You will have a building and I heard of some 7 or 10 year guarantee. So if that is true then what the hell is the risk…..half off the building. You people need to worry about things that are important instead of worring about something that can and will benefit OUR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE….Woops I forgot you people only worry about Tomorrow….LOL
Anonymous -because the town leaders can. We need to stop them now. Put that money into the dispatch radio system that was stated in today’s Hamburg SUN as old and outdated- Patch work of equipment. Let our Town leaders show us they are concerned about public safety. The kids can still skate on the current ice. I ask others to join me in this out cry….
I am very interested to see how this whole thing plays out. I also think that people and or groups should come out and take a position on this proposal once the facts are published. Let’s see what interest there is out here. What do you think?
Can anyone tell me how much the Town currently owes on Bonds that they are paying back, what they were taking out for, and when they will be paid off? I’m also interested to know if there is a benefit for the Town carrying Bond debt.
Thank you
Ben,
When you see the interest is overwhelming will you all go away and find something else to bitch about….We need this for our kids.
Hamburg Resident William sounds like a moron.
i am a coach for the Hawks so i like the idea but there has to be more details that we have to know before the people of this town make there minds,look back at everything in the past our kids have no place to go and hang out,like when i was a kid i could go to the Hamburg roller rink, and look were that went we shopped there and now it sits vacant, MRG you are absolutly right on the dipatch center i know first hand what a dump it is up there this should have been done years ago but it never went anywhere. Does any one now why,yes it is called POLITICS and that puts our police and volunteer fireman at risk
Can you tell me where the Town Board members sit with this proposal? I would say if they (our representatives) were for moving this project ahead, then lets get behind them and move this project forward. If you do the same thing today as you did yesterday, you will get the same results. Hey folks let’s think outside of the box to improve our Town. This is our chance to upgrade the services for our youth-“as Nike states”
JUST DO IT !!!
So, April 3rd was yesterday. Were you able to atend the meeting, and do you have any relevant information to report on that meeting?
Yes, I was at the meeting but it was called as an executive session so I am legally barred from discussing what transpired. Sorry.
Can you tell us if the proposed project is embraced by the advisory committee? And what is the next step in the process.
Thank you
All I can say is watch what happens at the next town board meeting. You should get a good idea of what took place then.
Well, I agree with the other Bill, I Think it is an awesome idea and we need to make movements towards the better. We need to make a better place for our kids to play. The place is falling apart. Dave, if you coach you know what I am saying. This is the best move for the Town and if anything we should be thanking this Jeff for the idea. He came up with a plan that is a win win for all and there is no way this will be a loosing adventure.
For you Sue, The next step is to help support it and get people on board with it. We need some place like this in out Town peple.
When is the next town meeting I will be there
Hamburg resident ,for the most part the Town people that work there do a good job at keeping that rink up and running cat help the slobs that leave there garbage laying around, I know that if this goes throught it will only help the Hawks because there would be so much ice time we would not have to practice at Leisure rinks Nichols rink or even at north Buffalo’s rink the hawks could use probable 80% of the ice time for 2 sheets of ice,then you have the 3 varsity hockey programs that use it,then 3 JV programs, then you have the possibility do more with that (IE tournements and things like that) to bring more poeple in to the town and that means $$$$$ .
next subject Ford i have not heard any thing on the new dispatch center that was supposed to be done, and Now with Bob Mueller gone who is incharge up at dispatch to make thing happen to get this up and running. f any one nows Bob he did a great job there he is going to be missed he was the glue that kept it togehter when Steve wanted to go with the county dispatch system
Dave,
Is there any truth to the rumor that there is a plan on eliminating the Police & Fire Dispatch. The fact that there is no plan on the table for updating the communication system seems to tell the story. Why not Bond 10 million bucks to bring the dispatch center up to date. Spend “our” money to provide public safety not to update the ice ring.
I would love to hear others on this topic.
Robert I have not heard that rumor, but i would not put it past the Supervisor to try again to eliminate that part of our public safety, see were it went last time, nowhere due to the public outcry, i fore one am all about public safety since i have first hand knowlege that every penny that is spent for fire and ems in our town is well worth it.( yes there are exceptions like what you read on other topics about a certain fire company ) but most of these guys are geniune trying to do there part to protect the community . 10 million for a dipatch center would be nice but that will never happen to much money even if the cut back to say 3 million that still is 10 time better that what those dispatchers have know,old and outdated,there hands are tied they know it the public nows it and the town knows it, Nobody really want to move forward on either project ice rink or dispatch center only time will tell to see who really has the nuts to move forward