After months of back-and-forth negotiations and diverging talks about the potential sale or management of the Crawford Center, Shawano County officials and the Shawano Hockey League finally have a new agreement ready to sign.
The public property committee on June 13 approved a three-year seasonal lease with the nonprofit group that will begin in the fall.
“We basically want to repeat last year’s lease with a longer term,” said Adam Gafner, president of the hockey league.
In the past, the two sides have agreed to five-year leases, but that was changed to a one-year deal in 2023-24, partly because the county was weighing options of what to do with the building.
Gafner said a longer lease would the group raise funds.
“From a marketing standpoint, the advantage of a longer term lease, whether it be three – we prefer five – is really going to our sponsors,” he said. “They want to know we have a commitment.”
He said sponsors for new uniforms are now being solicited and at least one has questioned whether the group would be in the Crawford Center in a couple years.
Supervisor Randy Young said he believed three years was a reasonable request, but then Jim Davel, administrative coordinator with the county, reminded the committee of why the county sought a one-year lease in the first place.
“We didn’t know what we were going to do with the Crawford Center, and I don’t think we’ve made that decision yet,” he said. “What are we doing with the long-term aspect of that building?”
Steve Dreher, manager of the county maintenance department, agreed with Davel but also said a one-year deal wouldn’t make a difference in any long-range plan.
“It needs to be part of a strategic long-term look at where we’re going to go with that facility,” Dreher said. “It kind of dovetails in with other facilities that need to be factored into a master plan. I think our master planning is going to take some time. I don’t know if a year would do us anything more than kick it down the road another year.”
Supervisor Rick Giese said a three-year deal was the best choice.
“I don’t see the Crawford Center going anywhere,” he said.
“What we’re going to do with the facility in the future a — that’s our issue,” Young added. “If we just year to year, not doing anything … we’re going to do a one-year lease because we haven’t done anything yet?”
Supervisor Tom Kautza also agreed with a longer deal.
“Nothing happens that quick,” he said in reference to any long-range planning.
Gafner also offered to reconnect with Kevin Helmuth, who at one time suggested signing a lease for the building similar to the hockey league but for the months when the league would not use it. He then would market the building in hopes of making it a moneymaker.
At the end of the meeting, after the committee agreed to a three-year lease, members were provided an update on an anonymous potential buyer for the Crawford Center. That man is no longer interested in the building, Davel said after the meeting.
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