IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Sunday, March 30, 2008 - The Pat O'Donnell Civic Center Board held their regular meeting on Friday, March 28, 2008 at the Civic Center, on the Campus of Gogebic Community College in Ironwood Township, Michigan.

Attending the meeting were Civic Center Chairman Scott Stephens, Dan Collins, Chuck Lotzer, Tom Laabs, Civic Center Vice-Chariman George Goerig, newly appointed member John Lorenson, John Kaseita, Jeff Haukkala, Former Civic Center Manager Linda Malmberg, and New Civic Center Manager Jim Sain.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Scott Stephens at 12:00 PM CST. When roll was taken all members were present. Stephens welcomed new board member John Lorenson as did the rest of the Board.

The first order of business for the Board was to approve the minutes of the February meeting complied by Dan Collins.

Chairman Stephens then asked the Board if there were any amendments to the agenda. George Goerig requested that a discuss of the skateboard park be added. The amended agenda was approved.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WISH LIST

The next issue for discussion was the capital improvements wish list. Chuck Lotzer, George Goerig and John Kaseita made up a subcommittee to develop such a list. George Goerig told the Board that there were several repairs that needed to be made at the Center – the roof is leaking; a low-engergy ceiling would save money; and low-energy lighting would reduce overhead, for example. But, Goerig explained that the Center is strapped for cash so money just isn't in the budget to make the needed repair and improvements.

Malmberg told the board that the dropped ceiling alone would be about $7,000. She pointed out that the leak in the roof would need to be fixed first, however. Lotzer told the Board that the roof has leaked from the very beginning. He went on to explain that it isn't a major project to fix it, but he explained that it needed to be fixed. Laabs proposed that some of the repairs may be able to be done by Board members due to the lack of money.

After a rather short discussion it was decided that a compiled list was not yet fully available and that the committee needed to seek bids on the roof and other matters before the list could be presented to the Board.

Jeff Haukkala told the Board that he knows of somebody that has money to grant, but he needs an exact number figure and a definitive plan so that he can make a proper presentation. He feared that too many delays might result in the money being given to some other cause. He said he can't just ask for money in general terms, he needs to have a specific project that he can point to regarding the Center.

John Kasieta expressed a strong desire to get rid of the old ice-making equipment, explaining that the value of the scrap iron alone makes it a worthwhile project. He explained that the Zamboni could then be stored where the equipment now stands. He went on to say that the ice-maker project would be the cheapest and easiest project to complete.

Chairman Stephens stated that it is important to try as hard as possible to obtain the money Haukkala may be able to secure. He said having a working "wish list" is a good thing that can be presented to donors so that they can understand what the Center's needs are.

Goerig told the Board that the lowest cost items are (1) the over-sized overhead door, $3,000-$4,500; (2) the new carpeting, $5,000-$6,000; and (3) the low-energy ceiling, $6,000-$7,000. Everything else, Goerig said, is in the $10,000 + to $150,000 price range.

Tom Laabs told Stephens that he and Kasieta went to hockey clubs and to the Ice Crystals and asked them what their biggest needs or desires would be for the Center. He supplied Stephens with lists of the items that they suggested. Kitchen expansion was one of the most important items listed, Laabs said. Stephens agreed and elaborated on the idea stating that kitchen expansion could open the doors to a wedding reception market.

Laabs told Stephens that an expansion of the kitchen space was one item that could be done for between $5,000-$6,000, like the others George previously mentioned.

Laabs started to tell the Board of another complaint that he has heard several times – the condition of the rest rooms – only to be interrupted by new Center manager, Sain. "Did you look in there? Take a walk through it! It's painted different colors. There's a new mirror in the men's room. We're about to get new toilet seats. The grout's been cleaned." Sain told Laabs.

"Good! That's one thing that can be taken off the list! That's great!" Laabs responded.

Laabs went on to say that the kitchen really needs to be updated and expanded, and that it would be best to sit down with those using the space to see what changes need to be made. Stephens agreed, and suggested that equipment for warming food – not necessarily for making it – needed to be purchased so that caterers could do weddings, etc. there.

Lotzer suggested that a buffet-style heating and cooling tables be purchased for serving the food. Sain agreed, but added that prep work in a kitchen will still need to be performed, and the kitchen is simply too small to be useful for anything.

Goerig asked Haukkala, "How much were they willing to donate?"

Haukkala responded, "I was asking for $5,000 to $6,000."

Goerig told the Board that the Center needs a women's changing/locker room. He said that the donor's money could best be used for that. Several of the Board members told Goerig that they agreed, but removing the old ice-making equipment is the key to getting such a project completed.

George suggested that moving the office upstairs would be a good move. Linda told the Board that they had considered that option before. Sain told the Board that he would be fine with moving the office upstairs.

Laabs asked the Board if the upstairs was going to be cleaned up regardless of what happens. The Board agreed. It was decided that the Center would take advantage of the City of Ironwood's Clean-Up Day by bringing the junk from the upstairs to the dumpster when it's set up for Spring Cleaning.

Some mention was made of putting the rental skate shelf on wheels so that it could be easily moved. And Goerig told the Board that a commercial hood is very expensive and the cost could make any kitchen expansion prohibitive. "Commercial hood and the equipment could easily cost $30,000! The hood alone would cost between $15,000 to $20,000 alone."

Jeff Haukkala explained that he was going to write a letter and he needed to know what project the Center needed funding for! More comments were made regarding the space-blanket dropped ceiling was concerned. Laabs expressed concern that such a new ceiling could cause even more troubles for the Center, unless humidity and trapped heat problems were properly addressed.

Goerig questioned if the $7,000 cost for the ceiling was installed or just for the materials? Sain told Goerig he believed the cost was for materials only. Goerig told the Board that they needed to choose a project that they can complete immediately if they are going to accept the donation. He explained there would be nothing worse than accepting the money and not do anything with it.

Laabs brought up ordered glass that was mentioned at a previous meeting. "It's up there!" Lotzer said, "It's not ordered it's up there! Norco from Marenisco donated the windows because they made some kind of mistake in ordering. There's fifty pieces of four foot by eight foot glass or something like that!"

Laabs said, "That's good news right? That's like finding $10,000!" He told the Board that the glass could be used to frame in the office.

Kasieta asked how dropping the ceiling would affect the upstairs. Laabs said, the new ceiling would create a dead air space, but it was too high to cause problems for the upstairs. But he pointed out that air needs to circulate in the neutral air space to avoid humidity problems.

While the ceiling was being discussed, Haukkala made a phone call and discovered that the trust he was going to seek the donation from meets on Memorial Day. So the Board decided to have the subcommittee work out the details, get complete prices, and decide what is the best thing to do with the available funds.

NEW MANAGER HIRING

The next item on the agenda was the hiring of the new Civic Center manager. Stephens told the Board that Sain signed a modified employment agreement, but the City had concerns about retirement. Stephens was told that a portion of Sain's pay would have to be put aside for retirement. Stephens asked City Manager Scott Erickson if the retirement could be waived since it wasn't budgeted into his wage. Sain is in agreement with that. The Board agreed to look further into the issue after City Attorney Cossi gives his opinion and do what is best for all parties concerned.

Stephens then told the Board that he has prepared a Performance Agreement that Mr. Sain would have to adhere to. He said that he uses this technique in his business and that it gives the employee a "blueprint" for what his company wants him working on and the priority of each item on the list. [1   2   3   4   Performance Agreement]

The Board fully examined the Agreement, and they all agreed it was a good idea. Sain also liked the concept, telling the Board that it helps him stay focused at the tasks at hand.

FINANCIALS - REVENUE GENERATORS & COST SAVINGS

The Board discussed new revenue options: (1) gun show; (2) car show; (3) moving sports show to fall instead of spring or have both; (4) bumper cars; (5) in-line skating; (6) golf nets; (7) batting cages; (8) liquor license; (9) flee markets; (10) moving the skateboard park into the Center; and (11) covering the ice mats with concrete.

Kasieta gave Stephens information he obtained about bumper cars, and he asked Sain and Malmberg how much labor it requires to move the mats each year once ice is no longer being manufactured. They explained that a minimum of 300 hours would be a safe estimate. Sain went on to say that the time required to make the ice would be severely reduced if the mats were embedded in concrete.

LINDA MALMBERG'S RESIGNATION

Chairman Scott Stephens read Linda Malmberg's letter of resignation.

The letter read, "Please accept my resignation as the general manager of the Civic Center effective immediately. I have both enjoyed and have been challenged by the years I have spent here. Under the guidance of the current board, I feel confident positive changes are on the way. Each and every board member seems truly dedicated to the future of the `Pat.'

I have agree to stay on as a part-time, as-needed employee until May 2^nd to help Jim through his transition to manager. After that date, Jim knows I'm only a phone call away. Thank you all, so very much. Sincerely, Linda Malmberg."

After the Board voted to accept her resignation, Chairman Stephens presented Ms. Malmberg with a special plaque.

Inscribed on the plaque were the words, "A special thank-you for your fourteen years of service. We regretfully bid you farewell. Good luck with your future endeavors."

With a quiver in her voice and a tear in her eye, Linda responded, "Thank-you all so much, thank-you!"

INTERNET, PHONES, PAINTING, AND VENDORS

Center Manager Sain explained that he changed the phone service and added high speed internet for a net change of $5.00 per month. He said the money is well spent because it makes the Center more attractive for shows because vendors can use the Internet to obtain financing and to display web pages, etc. Sain told the board that his wireless router was making it possible for the Center to have wireless Internet. The Board praised Sains decision.

Sain told the Board that he would be contacting area schools to help do decorative painting in the Center. He said it would be nice to have each of the area high schools have some input into the Center.

According to Jim Sain, the turnout of vendors for the craft show has been outstanding. He said if the turnout for a spring craft show is so good, it only makes sense to have a fall craft show as well.

Jim Albert