[Vision2020] FW: Moscow Ice Rink

Thu Jan 18 21:57:48 PST 2007

I think that the city has been more than fair in regards to the ice rink SUP.  They have given the county numerous opportunities to rectify the violation.  The county, to my knowledge, hasn't ever offered to meet with city officials to discuss an amicable resolution.  The city is the one that has come forward and taken the initiative.  The city could have acted sooner on the violation,legally as soon as the violation occurred in Oct.  This recent cease and desist order was pretty generous also.  They gave the county until the 25th to work something out when they could have shut the rink down right then and there (they gave them a stay of execution).  This gives the city time to work something out with the county. I am confident that the Mayor and City Council are doing the right thing here and optimistic that an agreement will be made before the 25th deadline.  I don't believe that the Mayor or anyone on City Council wants to shut down the rink.  At least it didn't sound
 like it as I watched the council meeting Tuesday night.  I am sure it did not make Joel Plaskon's job rewarding to have to point out that the violation was there or Randy Fife's day to finally have to enforce the terms of the SUP.        

Jerry Weitz <gweitz at moscow.com> wrote:  As one of the folks involved in the founding of the ice rink, I am not surprised with this city's government.  The same thing was done to the Alt. School and its defense cost a little over $12,000 in a Neighorhood Business Zone. The city's action against the Alt. School was is violation of state and federal law.  I believe that you will find the 1912 (without safe sidewalks) is in violation of city code, but that does not seem to matter (I am a supporter of the 1912).  Sometimes looking past a minor detail at certain junctures is the best for the common good. The county is not flush with money. I believe it is time for a significant change in city government.   
Jerry 

At 11:13 AM 1/18/07, Tom Ivie wrote:
  I am sure that the first inclination is to be upset with the city because they are the enforcer.  Take a step back and analyze the situation though.  The rink folks are caught in the middle for sure.  The city has to enforce the violated SUP.  The conditions of the SUP were agreed to by both the city and county.  It is up to the county to comply with those conditions. The county knew that non-compliance means violating the SUP and what the consequences of that is. The county has known for some time now that the city would have to do this and they should have been doing something, anything (setup a meeting, etc.) to try and rectify the situation.  unfortunately, it is the ice rink (a third party) that will feel any reprocussions from the situation.  I believe it is a bump in the road, though, and not the demise of the ice rink.  It looks like the city is trying to move forward and work with the county to resolve the situation as soon as possible.  This is evident by the
 city setting up a meeting with the county commissioners on the matter.  I am sure there are a whole lot of "not happy" ice rink users right now and they have good reason to be upset.  

Chris Storhok <cstorhok at co.fairbanks.ak.us> wrote:

   Visionaries,

   My question to all of you is how in the heck does this happen:

   >

   >

   > BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Moscow issues cease-and-desist order for ice

   rink

   > County has until Jan. 25 to reach agreement on use permit

   >

   > Staff report

   >

   > Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - Page Updated at 05:41:27 PM

   >

   > The city of Moscow has issued a cease-and-desist order for the Moscow

   > Rotary Veteran's Memorial Pavilion ice rink at the Latah County

   > Fairgrounds.

   >

   > A letter signed by City Attorney Randy Fife outlining the order was

   > presented to county commissioners during their Wednesday meeting.

   >

   > The ice rink will be forced to close Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. unless county

   > commissioners can reach an agreement with the city. Commissioners have

   > scheduled a public meeting for 2:30 p.m. Friday to discuss the

   situation.

   >

   > The city recently notified Latah County it was in violation of its

   special

   > use permit to operate the ice rink and the Latah County Fairgrounds

   because

   > it had not defined its parking area around the facility and failed to

   pave

   > the rink's parking lot by the specified date.

   >

   > The ice rink operates under a special use permit in the R3, or duplex

   zone.

   >

   > The county had until Sept. 30 to complete the paving project under

   > stipulations of the special use permit it signed in October 2005.

   >

   > The county has sought permanent status for the fairgrounds for years.

   Every

   > two to five years it must reapply for a special use permit to keep the

   > grounds open.

   >

   > The county has put down more gravel in the parking lot and plans to

   install

   > parking bumpers to show the city it is serious about meeting the

   special

   > use permit requirements.

   >

   > Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney said Fife signed the cease-and-desist order

   > Wednesday afternoon.

   >

   > "I think it's in keeping with enforcing the city's laws. It did not

   slam

   > the door for possibilities of the ice rink," she said. "This is a

   wake-up

   > call and I hope for the best."

   >

   > Chaney said the previous warnings had not resulted in compliance by

   the

   > county.

   >

   > "I am hopeful that a workable, mutually agreeable solution may be the

   end

   > result," she said.

   >

   > The City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to try to organize a meeting with

   Latah

   > County and Palouse Ice Rink Association officials to work toward a

   > solution.

   >

   > Chaney said the meeting is still being planned, but a time has not

   been

   > set.

   >

   > County commissioners Jack Nelson and Tom Stroschein declined comment

   on

   the

   > matter Wednesday evening. Both said they hadn't had a chance to read

   > through the cease-and-desist order.

   >

   >

   Chris S.

   N.P. AK

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