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Council may partner with civic auditorium group

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By CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Star-Tribune staff writer

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 2:06 AM MDT

A partnership between the city and the Citizens for a Civic Auditorium rests on one final vote tonight.

If the Casper City Council approves an agreement, a process that would include investing up to $5.5 million in a performing arts center would begin.

The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the city's role as well as the Citizens' responsibilities in making the auditorium a reality.

The council began discussing the agreement, which also would include $3 million in operational funding for 10 years, in mid-2007, when its original bid to build on the Platte River Commons fell through.

During the past year, the council formed a committee to work with the Citizens and arrived at a lengthy document that includes a timeline for funding and contingencies for how the partnership could end.

If the memorandum is approved, the city will begin looking for land in the Old Yellowstone District, an area near downtown slated for redevelopment. The city may agree to buy the land and complete the site work as well as help with some of the construction.

The council may ultimately agree to contribute $5.5 million to the auditorium that would be paid back by royalties from a possible trona mine. The royalties would come from land in the Green River Basin that has not yet been mined.

Even though the council may initially purchase the land, it won't solicit a design or begin construction until the Citizens complete its goals.

The Citizens agree to collect roughly $9.5 million in pledges and $8 million in grants before July 31, 2010. If the money is not secured in some form by that date, the council has the ability to dissolve the agreement.

If the Citizens group crumbles or cannot complete it's goals by the assigned date, the Citizens will assign the trona royalties to the city to be used for either the auditorium or for furthering the arts in the Casper community, according to the memorandum.

The council will also hold a public hearing for the Salt Creek Heights Business Center. In order for the business center to use city utilities, the council may vote to annex the more than 240 acres into the Casper city limits.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com

NewsTracker

Last we knew: The Casper City Council preliminarily approved an agreement between the city and the Citizens for a Civic Auditorium.

The latest: The council will vote in its meeting tonight to formally approve the memorandum of understanding, which could include a $5.5 million commitment.

What's next: If the council approves the agreement it will begin looking to purchase land in the Old Yellowstone District.

To attend

The Casper City Council meeting will be held at 6 tonight in City Hall, 200 N. David St.


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Comments to this story.

Hmmmm wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:11 AM:

" How about not and use some of the money to fix the event center. If they go ahead with it then i expect not to hear about budget shortfalls as was an issue a few months ago. Governmental hypocracy and waste knows no end. "

Archimedes wrote on Sep 17, 2008 7:10 AM:

" They've done it again (remember the court house). After being overwhelmingly defeated, the "elites" go ahead anyway, thumbing their arrogant noses at the taxpayers. The city pledges $5.5 MILLION of our money to support a venture to be used by a few. This will become an everlasting burden on the taxpayers, who are already paying far too much. It's very easy to spend someone else's money. The council members should pledge to make up the shortfall when the trona mine doesn't produce the expected revenues. Who else but government would spend this kind of money before they know if they will ever have it? "

HS wrote on Sep 17, 2008 3:46 PM:

" THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE BALLOT. I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT THE EVENT CENTER WAS TO BE USED FOR. NOW CANT YOU JUST SEE SOME COWBOY AND COWGIRL GOING TO THE OPERA IN THEIR BLUE JEANS AND BOOTS. THE ELITES SHOULD GO TO DENVER IF THEY WANT THIS TYPE OF VENTURE. I AM SURE THAT MANY HERE IN CASPER DONT WANT THIS CIVIC AUDITORIUM. CASPER PEOPLE ARE JUST DOWN HOME PEOPLE NOT FANCY. "

CITIZEN CAIN wrote on Sep 18, 2008 12:18 PM:

" In today's world, can the "civic" citizens not find a more noble cause to raise money for? Is entertainment high on the list of priorities of all citizens? NOT!! I would think there are so many more urgent causes to raise money for, beginning with issues that affect the elderly, disabled, children, and the numbers of us who struggle with the cost of living. How about a "civic" fund to help keep our sales tax from being raised??? Come on, Council, what are you doing? "

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