Rogers Youth Hockey Association asks Otsego for partnership; resident criticizes councilmember over online remarks

A Rogers Youth Hockey Association representative told the City of Otsego council on July 28 that the association sought collaborative help for a regional rink project and criticized Council Member Ryan Dunlap for publicly describing the group’s request as a $5 million direct ask.

The comment, during the meeting’s open forum, came from Renee Dean, who identified herself as a Rogers Youth Hockey Association member and Otsego resident. Dean said the association had not made a direct financial request of $5 million to the city and that a different meeting had presented a $5 million “gap” in the overall project, not a single-city ask. “That is simply not true. We never have made a direct financial ask of that size,” Dean said.

The matter matters locally because Dean said the association contributes an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 annually to Otsego through charitable-gambling proceeds and asked the city to reconsider allocating some of those proceeds. “These funds would not come out of a single citizen’s pocket and would be a great help to our association,” she said.

Dean asked two things: a public apology from Council Member Dunlap for what she called a misleading online narrative, and that the city reconsider allocating charitable proceeds that come from Rogers Youth Hockey Association activities. She also offered to leave a written list of noncash partnership options — intergovernmental agreements, resource sharing, or advocacy — to support regional projects.

Council Member Ryan Dunlap responded later in the meeting to remarks from the open forum. He declined to debate the personal attacks and noted the council’s record. “The decision was unanimous to deny the request,” Dunlap said, adding that the denial is part of the public record in the minutes approved at the same meeting.

No formal motion to alter the city’s allocations or to reopen the matter was presented during the July 28 meeting. Dean said the association will continue fundraising and pursuing the project with or without Otsego’s help, but she urged the council to “lead with transparency, collaboration, and respect.”

Mayor and council members did not take additional action on the request during the meeting; Ryan’s comment indicates the earlier denial remains the council’s recorded decision.

The council’s minutes and meeting video — referenced by Dean and confirmed by Dunlap as part of the public record — contain the formal discussion and the denial vote.