PEORIA, Ill. – Members of the Peoria Civic Center Authority seem to be receptive to the city helping them finance more of the center’s list of capital projects including a new ice rink-making system, but we won’t know how receptive for a bit.
The Civic Center Authority Board Thursday set a special meeting for March 13th — the day before the City Council could give its approval for $20 million in financing.
With that and $25 million in state grant money, that still leaves the Civic Center $2 million short. What’s more…
“The $47 million number was four years ago numbers,” said Yvonne Greer, CCA Chairperson. “Most of the projects that we have done thus far have come in more expensive than we anticipated. The $2 million shortfall is just added to the higher the cost of providing those things that we need now, at a higher rate.”
Most of the public attention has centered around the need for a new ice-making plant, with the Peoria Rivermen’s lease with the Civic Center up for renewal after this season. Funding the plant, Greer says, doesn’t guarantee the Rivermen will stay.
“That investment only allows for the ice plant to be replaced. We still have to go through our due diligence with the team and its managers to come up with an equitable contract that’s agreeable by both sides,” said Greer. “If that is the case, then we move forward.”
Greer said a new ice plant is estimated to cost $4 million. If work moves forward, she says it wouldn’t start until next year at the earliest.
