Fewer Skaters Means Less Money Coming Into City

The ice at isn’t getting used as much as it once did and is now causing city officials to look at ways to cut the in order to help balance next year’s budget, .

Fred Pischke, superintendent of recreation, said ice rental fees, which make up the majority of revenue for the Yack, are down from last year.

Pischke addressed the Wyandotte City Council at a budget hearing Wednesday with suggestions on how he believes he can cut expenses to offset the loss in revenue.

His plan fell short, however, when part of it included . He was hoping that would save his department thousands of dollars, but was told that the fireworks are paid for out of a separate fund earmarked for city events.

So, what he thought was enough cuts to save some of his workers from being laid off ended up not being enough after all.

Mayor Joseph Peterson is recommending that , which employs 10 people during the summer. Those cuts would save the city about $45,500.

The playground program was selected because it’s the only recreation event that doesn’t generate enough money to fund itself, City Administrator Todd Drysdale said.

Pischke said it’s his goal to keep the program coordinator and half of the playground workers. By doing so, the Green Box program wouldn’t be eliminated, but rather would be scaled back and offered at fewer parks in future years.

Pischke said he's developed a plan to cut about $27,000 in expenses in concession, maintenance and contractual services costs.

Councilman Daniel Galeski asked Pischke if he’s ever considered recruiting volunteers to run the summer playground program.

He said he hasn’t because he worries about their availability and reliability, not to mention background checks and other safety concerns.

“I have multiple kids myself,” Pischke said. “For me to drop off a kid to a volunteer, I would question that.”

Councilman James DeSana grilled Pischke on whether it’s necessary to have three maintenance workers in his department. On nights where there are events requiring a Zamboni operator to be working, DeSana said, he questions whether another maintenance worker also needs to be on duty at the Yack.

Pischke said he operates with a second supervisory person on nights when there is a hockey game or figure skating competition because “there are things that can happen.”

Councilwoman Sheri Sutherby-Fricke said she has no issues with the staffing arrangement and said the department has flourished since Pischke took over.

“We’re really blessed with the people we have and the events they put on,” she said.

The issue Sutherby-Fricke does have, however, is the lack of special events that are scheduled at the Yack. She said that facility should be heavily marketed and full of activity all the time.

“That building … should be bringing in a ton of revenue,” she said to Pischke. “You have an opportunity to generate some great revenue and it hasn’t happened. Otherwise, we may have to make some very difficult decisions.”

Pischke said his staff attempts to book events there, as well as uses the facility to host ice skating birthday parties. He said he’s in negotiations to bring an indoor concert to the site, as well.

Former Councilman Johnny Kolakowski told council members Wednesday that they need to be bold and brave in their ideas to decrease expenses and increase revenue. One suggestion he offered was turning into a water park.

“Today’s a day when you have to look at things differently,” Kolakowski said. “Everything is changing so fast and you guys have to all change with it. And you have to look outside the box.”

Pischke said he’s cut about $70,000 in expenses at the golf course over the last two years and that it’s now making money for the city if you take away the depreciation costs of the facility.

City officials will continue their budget talks at 5 p.m. on Aug. 8 when they tackle the budgets of the engineering and departments.