Poll Detail
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Should the county follow the advice of the oversight committee and find new management for Northern Lights Arena?
Yes
30%
No
64%
No Opinion
6%
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Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-33 | Post a comment
| MarkJohnHunter | |
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02-29-08 11:09 AM
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The situation at NLA has been complicated from the beginning. I have sat in on numerous MPAC, County, AARC and Oversight Committee meetings. The general public is poorly informed about the whole story, in part because it is complicated, and in part because of the personalities involved. As to Tony Suszek and the new City baseball field, that also is a complicated story. Tony is not the person who convinced the City to build a new baseball field. The City torn down the field the Babe Ruth Association built, and was building a new field to replace the one the City took so Glawe could build a new development. As to NLA, for a long time, it has looked like the County Commissioners were going to let the issue ride, see what AARC and MPAC do, and if the NLA budget goes bust, then the Commissioners will do something.
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| ischuelke@charter.net | |
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02-28-08 4:44 PM
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Jane says: If you have a laptop, take it with you and let others who are not fortunate enough to have one vote. I had the opportunity to vote this way and I appreciate it.
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| Larry32 | |
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02-28-08 12:16 PM
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Sarahj, I think the point/comment in the Oversight's report talking about the tournements being down this year versus last year is that it really doesn't matter who was the manager Bob, Norm, etc. that these need to be scheduled or it is lost revenue for the rink and the community. The point is even though staff was turning over M-PAC and/or the AARC should have kept an eye on this. AARC probably thought this was being taken care of so it falls more on M-PAC.
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| sarahj | |
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02-27-08 3:52 PM
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this is also my last comment - as for false statements in the oversight "report"--as for the lack of hockey tourneys in '07--anyone who knows what goes on with hockey knows that these tourneys are scheduled at least 8-10months previous - mmmm....who was in charge of doing that last January?--not the current managers. I will not waste anymore time picking this apart - I also believe that the public has spoken. Let it rest Norm, Darlene, Tony, Jim & Brian. Get on with your lives and quit trying to destroy NLA.
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| Jimmy198126 | |
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02-27-08 2:29 PM
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This will be my last post on this subject, the people out there can make there own assumtions which they seem to be doing 63% to 32% enough said. Move on
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| mikes1 | |
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02-27-08 1:42 PM
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If, as the saying goes, "Ignorance is Bliss" then Jimmy and sarahj must be the happiest people in the world!
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| Jimmy198126 | |
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02-27-08 1:29 PM
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Your right Mike1 they are all intertangled someway thats the 1,000.000 question?
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| mikes1 | |
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02-27-08 12:28 PM
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Jimmy's right! It's not important to know the history or the facts about the ball field. It's not important to read the oversight committee's report or understand the recommendations (in fact reading the report will only confuse us) before attacking the authors. What's important is that we throw as much mud at Suszek as possible to try and discredit him and the rest of the oversight committee. Facts and rationale thought be damned! You know I heard that Lyle VanWormer is realy Norm Sommerfeld's uncle and that Joellyn McCullum is Suszek's sister and that Jim Park is the father to rest of the oversight committee and Norm Sommerfeld. Wake up people, don't you see the conspiracy here! First it's Northern Lights, then the County of Alpena, then the world!
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| Jimmy198126 | |
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02-27-08 10:01 AM
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I think all Sarahj is asking is why someone who talked the City into spending over $100,000 on a baseball field whih was never completed can sit on committee and be critical of someone else, what is the motive and don't tell me because he's a taxpayer. He should of thought of that when he was spending City Tax $$$
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| BASEBALLFAN | |
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02-26-08 11:37 PM
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Sarahj, name the false statements in the report. You really sound dssperate! Again, you can't find problems with the report so you attack Mr. Suszek. Have a little class.
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| Goalie01 | |
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02-26-08 11:13 PM
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mikes1, I was wondering if you are on M-PAC and if so, what position do you hold?
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| sarahj | |
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02-26-08 10:40 PM
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Baseball Fan - you want an opinion on the oversight report - that report was obviously written by Mr. Suszek, Norm Sommerfield, and Darlene Wilmot - probably with some input from Jim Park. There are so many false statements in that report - it is a joke. First of all, ask the oversight members if any of them have ever been in NLA for ANY EVENT!!! Probably not. Did any of the committee actually go to NLA and check things out & talk to CURRENT staff members about the facility(not PREVIOUS STAFF MEMBERS!)..before they wrote this report. So many of the problems being corrected by the current staff were problems created by Norm & Darlene. Go talk to people at NLA - ask for a tour of the building- talk to people who are active in different events at the arena. I think you will be surprised at what you hear. Lets' start doing some positive things for this community. And I would like to know who paid for Mr. Suszeks time at the commissioners meeting today? AMAESD & us tax
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| Hammond | |
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02-26-08 10:08 PM
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I have evidence that the oversight committee is out to ruin NLA and our whole town. They hate kids and old people and I'm pretty sure they were the masterminds behind 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, and global warming!
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| mikes1 | |
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02-26-08 9:51 PM
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That's right, attack Susek's character and motives. Blame all of MPAC's failures on previous management. One simple fact remains; the arena would have been deep in the red again this year had MPAC not donated $50,000 to bail out the failed arens management team "led" by Bob Kraft. Anyone who really believes that the arena did better this year must be smoking something pretty strong. Look at the impact on the community and local buso buisnesses of 12 tournaments in 2006 vs.3 in 2007. Can we as a community really affford this type of backwards management? Keep throwing stones at the messenger and bury your heads in the sand. If MPAC is alllowed to continue running Northern Lights, not only will they fail but the community will be failed in the process. The tactic of attacking the character and motives of someone whose views differ from yours and whose facts you cannot dispute, is a tactic used by desperate people. How sad that is all you have to use in this debate.
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| BASEBALLFAN | |
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02-26-08 3:27 PM
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Not one of these comments are discussing the report itself but making attacks on the Oversight Committee. I don't know of any attacks by the Oversight Committee of any individuals. The only real suggestion is that the AARC be evaluated by the County Board of Commissioners so that everyone is working together. By attacking the Oversight Committee, you act as if you have something to hide.
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| mikes1 | |
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02-26-08 1:35 PM
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Hi George or is it Jay or Tom, or Marie? you lamented the fact that figure skating participation has gone from 100 kids to 55. I've been to the shows and I only see one "boy". I think the recent popularity of new clubs for flower arrangement and hair dresssing have have impacted your participation by 'boys".
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| George | |
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02-26-08 12:35 PM
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(Jay Hammond) alias George, to Jimmy 198126 you are partially correct. You are wrong with your figure of $30,000. The actual figure is over $100,000. Please do not take this as an indictment against the city. The city can only do so much and then at a certain point the user group has to take the bull by the horns and make things happen. Remember this, a construction company can easily find workers to tear something down and turn it in to ruble so that it can be hauled away. People that can build something and turn ideas and dreams in to reality are not as common nor as easily found.
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| Jimmy198126 | |
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02-26-08 9:44 AM
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Isn't Suszek the one that got the City of Alpena to spend $30,000 dollors to build a baseball field that still has not been completed
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| mikes1 | |
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02-26-08 8:03 AM
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Hockey fan is right! There's a conspiracy! And norm sommerfield and tony sussek are bad, bad men who only live to destroy MPAC! I tell you what the county commisioners better not be part of this conspiracy or we'll throw them all out of office. Don't forget to show up at the meeting Tuesday afternoon to make sure they don't sneak something by us. Clearly we can't trust the county either!
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| HockeyFan | |
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02-25-08 10:16 PM
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whoever is posing as hammond is very immature with your responses to other peoples comments, you are obviously fans of the oversight committee/norm and darlene and cannot respond intelligently to the facts that have been stated. All that we have been hearing about is the conflict of interest with the MPAC members, what about the conflict of interest with the oversight committee. Tony Suszek is employeed by the AMAESD which darlenes husband is the superintendent. Norm Sommerfield sits on the AMAESD board which votes on the contracts of Tony Suszek and Brian Wilmot. The AMAESD should not be involved in NLA activies, dont they have enough to do will our taxpayer millage money? The main purpose of the oversight committee has been to get rid of MPAC and rehire Norm and Darlene and in turn the rink will once again be in the RED.Bob Kraft and MPAC has done an excellent job pulling NLA out of the red which the former management could not achieve and put NLA into the black.
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| Hammond | |
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02-25-08 8:30 PM
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Sue Kraft is reel smart too. Her husbind Bob is doing a gate job working for the icediggers!
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| Skifather | |
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02-25-08 5:52 PM
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Insofar as the oversight committee's reasons for their advice were published in the newspaper, I see absolutely nothing compelling for changing management. Absolutely nothing! In fact, the committee's cited statements seemed specious. If ever there was a time to heed the maxim, "Don't change horses in the middle of the stream," this is it. Keep and support the present management!
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| CandRlucas | |
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02-25-08 3:46 PM
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This issue is like beating a dead horse. NO, the county should NOT remove the present VOLUNTEERS of MPAC! The oversight Chair has over stepped his bountries. Perhaps to keep in the good graces of his Boss, Mr. Wilmot. This is just a contention from the past management, who wished to NOT be micro-managed by MPAC. The county needs to put this dead issue aside and support the VOLUNTEERS of MPAC who worked and sacrificed personel time to create the JEWEL that NLA is today . The oversight committee basically has not supported NLA by attending or personel financial assistance of any event held at NLA. Commissioners please, look at the real facts not disgruntled individuals contentions. Support our youth and attend events held at NLA regularly.
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| sue622 | |
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02-25-08 2:47 PM
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There is not a person in this community who is more dedicated to seeing the success of NLA than the current manager Bob Krafft. I just hope that the County Commissioners are smart enough to see what is going on with this "oversight committee"-- all who have close connections with Norm Sommerfield & Darlene Wilmot. Come on you guys - read between the lines!
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| George | |
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02-25-08 10:35 AM
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Someone already has posted a comment with my last name and it wasn't me,(Jay Hammond). I therefore am posting as George. You may not be able to trust what you read on these blogs. If you have a question for me or want my opinion feel free to call me or ask me a question if you see me in person. I am proud of M-PAC. Thank you Alpena for the support you have given to M-PAC and all of the user groups. M-PAC is primarily but not entirley made up of the people that use the arena. If you want to change something join us. My goal for the arena would be to see the user groups like figure skating, hockey and speed skating increase their membership. The numbers are down. My kid has been in figure skating long enough for me to remember when we had 100 kids and not 55 in the club. This is my agenda and where I am coming from. Maybe people should ask others what their agenda is or just why are they involved if they don't have kids using the facility or if they don't use it themselves.
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