Local Video
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| Despite city’s objections, volunteers build warming house at rink |
By: JIM HAMMERAND, Staff Writer
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Posted: Saturday, December 5, 2009 12:16 am
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NORTHFIELD — A warming house built by volunteers got a cold reception from City Hall this week.
On Nov. 27, a group of Northfield Hockey Association fathers built the 480-square-foot structure at the rink outside of the ice arena to give skaters a place to lace up, despite warnings from officials that they did not have city approval.
“It’s city property and they don’t have a permit and they don’t have permission,” Building Official Jim Kessler said. “They were told (on) Wednesday not to build it. They built it on Friday anyway.”
On Monday, Kessler padlocked the building and stopped work. Construction, he said, not only circumvented the public approval process, but also encroached on the Jefferson Parkway right-of-way and drainage easements and was not inspected.
Hockey dad Pat Jirik, who organized other volunteers and solicited funds and materials for the project, said he thought the city could approve the structure after the fact.
“We just decided to get the warming house up before it got too cold,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going to be as big a deal as it is. ... I don’t want (there to be) any bad feelings. We are trying to work with the city to get it corrected, to get it done.”
The warming house is a great idea, said City Recreation Manager Jason Eisold, and would have been an asset to the youth skaters who use the one-year-old rink.
Skaters at the rink currently dress in the ice arena, Eisold said, but there’s not enough space to open locker rooms to them. He lauded the volunteers for their work, time and effort, but said it was premature without agreement from the city.
“Unfortunately it didn’t follow what was required from us as a city. We’ve got policies and procedures and directions for a reason. I don’t think the city’s going to intentionally drag their feet — they know it’s a seasonal operation,” he said.
Because the city needs to sign off on the warming house before skaters can use it, Kessler said it will remain closed for now.
“The city’s not going to go in and tear it down, obviously, it’s (the building) actually private property. They own it. It is on our property, we could secure it or tell them to get rid of it. At this point I don’t think that’s in the making,” he said.
— Jim Hammerand covers the city. He can be reached at jhammerand@northfieldnews.com or 645-1114. |
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Being new to this area, I don't pretend to know all of the politics that go into these types of decisions. In the end the kids are the ones who are missing out. Please find a viable solution for this impasse and get this project done. It would surely benefit the entire community.
First of all there are so many problems with what these people did by building this structure that it boggles the mind. No permit, is there electricity, who did it, is the building safe, how do you know since you couldn't inspect it? Who owns it, is it a private structure on public land? If it burns down or falls down and someone gets killed, who gets sued? It goes on and on...
Here are the politics that go into this issue. If the city tries to be nice to these folks by letting them build a structure without permits here's what will happen. Somebody like Lee Lansing will build an illegal addition at the tires plus property this spring where he'll be selling plants.
When the city starts the process of making him tear it down because he didn't have a permit, he and his cronies like the Summas and the folks over at Locally Bought and Paid For will be up in arms because the city let someone else build a structure without a permit. Remember these people whining when the city made him take down his plastic tent?
These people will say that the city is unfairly persecuting Lee Lansing and that they're just out to get him. He'll use it as a defense in his trial, and you know he's looking for any excuse to sue the city. Remember, he was involved in something like 23 lawsuits in 17 years.
Heck, Lansing might even build a stand on public property just to push the issue.
Unfortunately these well meaning people did something without really thinking it through, and it puts the city in a very tough spot. If they tear it down, they'll get lambasted for being cold hearted, and if they don't tear it down, they'll get criticized later for not applying or enforcing statutes fairly. They can't win can they?