CHRISTINE ROBINSON Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:00 am
Casper is one step closer to a performing arts center after the Casper City Council discussed a plan to partner with Citizens for a Civic Auditorium on Thursday.
A memorandum of understanding, which includes the city fronting roughly $5.5 million for the building, was too vague for some of the council members to initially approve.
Council member Maury Daubin said he wanted to see a timeline in the agreement that outlined when the city would end the partnership if not all funding sources were found.
In the memorandum, the city would buy three acres of land for roughly $1.4 million in the Old Yellowstone District, an area near downtown slated for redevelopment. But the city would not proceed with design nor building of the project until several of the funding sources were secured.
Some council members thought the clause was sufficient. It would allow the Citizens and the city to work together to apply for funding sources while not creating an "artificial timeline," said council member Guy Padgett.
Daubin said he was concerned that with no end date, the city could be holding on to land indefinitely.
Council member Joel Burdess wondered about the Citizens' payback system. The Citizens have a royalty to trona leases in the Green River Basin. If and when the trona is mined, the city will gradually receive payment for its $5.5 million contribution.
Citizens President Ken Barbe said no one can guarantee there will be a mine, but the company that owns the leases has invested millions in the land and does plan to open a mine.
Both Daubin and council member Keith Goodenough said they think there are other areas in the city which require more attention than a civic auditorium.
The council decided to proceed and asked the Citizens to continue to meet with council members to find solutions to a timeline and several other issues.
Council members will discuss the proposal again in a work session on Sept. 8, and formally vote on the measure in their meeting on Sept. 16.
Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com
News tracker
Last we knew: The council preliminarily decided to buy land in the Old Yellowstone District for a civic auditorium and partner with the Citizens for a Civic Auditorium in building the center.
The latest: Council members decided to change part of the agreement between the two groups including installation of a timeline for when each portion needs to be complete.
What's next: The council will discuss the resolution again in a work session on Sept. 8 and vote formally on the agreement on Sept. 16.
Last we knew: The council preliminarily decided to buy land in the Old Yellowstone District for a civic auditorium and partner with the Citizens for a Civic Auditorium in building the center.
The latest: Council members decided to change part of the agreement between the two groups including to install a timeline for when each portion needs to be complete.
What's next: The council will discuss the resolution again in a work session on Sept. 8 and vote formally on the agreement on Sept. 16.]]->