Citizens for a Civic Auditorium has yet to ask the Amoco Reuse Agreement Joint Powers Board for the $5 million it needs - and the money may not be available, according to JPB Chairman Jeff Hockin.

"They haven't made any formal requests," Hockin said.

And when board member Marian Kingdon said she didn't think money for the auditorium was available, Hockin said, "Probably not, no. But without a formal request, I think it's a moot point."

Board Director Alice Kraft said most of the board's money is in longer-term investment accounts. Because total funding from the reuse agreement and the final payment for the building facility fund won't be in until 2012, the board doesn't have millions of dollars to spend on short notice.

"We developed a criteria saying that when we have money for the public, we'll notify the public, and people would apply and we would have a public hearing to make decisions," Kraft said. "But one entity cannot get the entire amount advertised."

So, even if the board did have $5 million extra to spend, it couldn't all go to the civic auditorium, she said.

However, a reserve fund of $5 million could fund a project in the Old Yellowstone District, the area east from Poplar Street to David Street and north from Collins Street to First Street. The Citizens for a Civic Auditorium could construct the new building in that area.

"The Joint Powers Board is not obligated to provide funding in the corridor [Old Yellowstone District] area," Kraft said, "but development in the corridor would link downtown and the Platte River Commons Area."

The commons area is also owned by the board, which met Wednesday.

Because the board's funds are used exclusively for building and construction projects, "We can buy bricks and mortar and that sort of thing, but we can't buy land," Kraft said.

Officials from the city of Casper could help with the land. The City Council has already discussed purchasing some Old Yellowstone District land for the project.

Patty Bratton, executive director of Citizens for a Civic Auditorium, said the group hasn't approached the JPB for money because, "It'll be a joint effort with the city. The city will also be part of the ask."

Civic Auditorium President Ken Barbe said the process of talking with the city about partnering in the project is ongoing, and the group will approach the JPB with the city's support.

"The money that at one point was designated for use in the corridor [Old Yellowstone District] - we and the city have designated that as a possible funding source," Barbe said. "We're just identifying sources of money right now."

Mayor Paul Bertoglio said that while the city hasn't specifically been asked to team with Citizens for a Civic Auditorium, it probably would support the group.

"We have not made a commitment to go to the Joint Powers Board and asked for the $5 million. We assumed that was going to be done by the Civic Auditorium," he said. "We'll probably have to have a discussion with them and meet with the Joint Powers Board."

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com.