SHAWANO, WI- The start of hockey in Shawano is on hold as the Crawford Center is dealing with some water issues that are causing problems with the ice.
“Mother nature outside is impacting an indoor facility.”
Recent rain has led to ice chunks forming on the ice, making it not possible to play, according to Shawano High School Hockey Coach Adam Gafner.
“We started on Monday with some captains practices at the high school level as well as with youth league, but we had to shut it down on Tuesday.”
This week, the Shawano Hockey League was planning to host open skate on October 28th and October 29th, but had to cancel that due to the conditions. It also means the spooky Halloween open skate was cancelled.
Gafner says what they are finding from the dripping from the ceiling is large chunks of ice that they are going to have to slowly and carefully chisel away. “We have softballs all over the rink.
” he said. “The kids can’t skate. This is supposed to be an exciting time of the year, but if you run into these things, you will go down hard.”
The roof problem at the Crawford Center has been an ongoing issue for years. Shawano County Board Chairman Tom Kautza says it is not the first time it has come to their attention.
“It’s a money pit and there has been discussions about the hockey club taking it over.”
Kautza says the county has been asked to fix the roof, but the money is not there.
“There are always higher priorities, as far as the county is concerned, that needs to be taken care of first.” Kautza says that the Crawford Center is always on the initial Capital Improvement Project List, but each year it has been taken off due to priority.
“We are going to have to do something with it, but there are so many buildings that the county maintains.” Kautza says they are currently dealing with flooding in the basement of the courthouse. “When you have limited funds, you have to deal with what you got.”
Gafner says not fixing the Crawford Center impacts the community.
“This has gone to the county committees for years, but it keeps getting taken off the project list.”
Gafner says the county is looking for the revenue to come in other forms.
“We are more than likely going to have to invest in insulation as well as fixing the roof,” Gafner says.
Kautza and Gafner both agree that a solution is needed.
“Somebody needs to step up for the Crawford family, and we owe it to their legacy to be prudent with the money they gave us to take care of this gift and right now it is not being done.”
The Crawford Center roof is an item on the Property Committee Meeting agenda for November 2nd at 3:00pm at the Courthouse Room 7.
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