Rogers Youth Hockey asks Otsego for regional partnership, funding help for second ice sheet

Representatives of the Rogers Youth Hockey Association told the Otsego City Council on Feb. 24 that they seek a regional partnership with the City of Otsego to help fund construction of a second sheet of ice in Rogers.

Renee Dean, speaking for the group, said more than half of registered families in the association — “over 55% of the families registered with Rogers youth hockey are in fact from Otsego” — and asked the council to consider a multi-jurisdictional approach that would share cost and governance. “We are not asking for the world, but we are asking for help,” Dean said.

Why it matters: Council members said the issue affects Otsego residents who use Rogers facilities and could affect future local planning if Otsego pursues its own high school and associated athletic facilities. The association argued earlier investment would be cheaper than waiting for demand to become urgent.

Details from the presentation and council discussion show the project cost estimates and fundraising status as presented by Dean and later clarified in council remarks: construction estimates cited ranged “anywhere from, like, 15 to $17,000,000”; the City of Rogers had committed roughly $6,500,000; the association said it had raised about $170,000 and estimated roughly $1,000,000 more in pending funds, leaving a stated shortfall of about $5,000,000.

Council members and staff did not commit city funds at the meeting. City Administrator Adam (last name not specified in the record) and staff recommended convening interested partners for a follow-up meeting to define what a city contribution or partnership would look like and which entities should sit at the table. Adam said the next step would be to include Rogers stakeholders, school-district representatives and the cities’ park-and-recreation staff in further discussions. The council directed staff to follow up and indicated interest in having stakeholders meet to explore options rather than committing money immediately.

Several parents and a youth player spoke in support: Marella Morgan, who identified herself as a player, said a second sheet would reduce the need for local players to travel to other rinks for practice. Council members noted jurisdictional complexities — the rink would be in Rogers, not Otsego — and the need to understand operating agreements, long-term capital plans and potential school-district involvement.

What’s next: Staff said the city’s parks and recreation director has contacts for the Rogers organizers and will arrange follow-up conversations. No formal council vote or funding commitment occurred at the Feb. 24 meeting.

Ending: The council invited the association and city staff to continue planning discussions; any future request for money or formal partnership would return to the council for consideration.