Arena management in limbo

By RICHARD ROLKEMorning Star Staff Jun 03 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Greater Vernon officials are being secretive when it comes to arena operations in the new year. Recreation Excellence was notified in January that it won’t operate the three ice facilities after Dec. 31, but the Greater Vernon Services Committee is not saying how the Multiplex, Civic and Priest Valley arenas will be managed. “It’s in the works,” said chairman Gary Corner. Among the options are contracting out operations to another firm or GVSC taking over management on its own. Corner admits that a conclusion has been reached by the board but he won’t get into specifics because they are confidential at this time. “I can’t tell you that right now,” he said.

Corner also revealed that GVSC is in contract negotiations right now, but he wouldn’t say if the talks are with a new operator or with Recreation Excellence to temporarily extend its contract. It’s possible that the issue could come up at the next GVSC board meeting June 21. Tom Watson, Recreation Excellence co-owner, believes it would make sense for GVSC to extend the contract until the end of ice season next spring so there is a smooth transition towards what ever model GVSC pursues. “I am supposed to have a meeting with the powers-that-be in the next couple of weeks about what’s going on,” he said. In January, GVSC stated that the contract with Recreation Excellence wasn’t being terminated because of performance but because operational options needed to be considered. Recreation Excellence has operated Greater Vernon’s ice facilities since 2001.

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GVSC twiddles its thumbs June 3 EDITORIAL

With temperatures sizzling already, it’s hard to think about winter. But the reality is that planning for the next season of ice sports isn’t that far off. But instead of knowing who will be operating Greater Vernon’s three arenas, the public has been left completely in the dark.
Recreation Excellence was handed its walking papers in January, and yet all Greater Vernon Services Committee chairman Gary Corner can say about a new management model is, “It’s in the works.” One has to wonder what exactly GVSC staff and directors have been doing for all of these months. Why is it that we are now in June, and the only response we get is, “It’s in the works.”

With the arenas such an integral part of this community — whether it is for sports or special events — the public should have known some time ago what direction operations were headed. In fact, with management of the arenas generating so much public debate since 2001, one would think GVSC would want to create some dialogue with and determine how residents would like the facilities run. Corner has suggested that the issue could be before the GVSC board June 21, and that wouldn't be soon enough. Ultimately, taxpayers rely on elected officials to represent our best interest and do their due diligence. That may take some time as service options and legal matters are considered, but the length of time with this is ridiculous. Greater Vernon residents deserve to know how some of their most vital assets are being operated, and they deserve to be part of the process.