PRIVATE ARENA Mayor's vision

Mayor George M. McKelvey's view on the development process now that a mostly privately funded project is possible:
Arena board and city agree on an operations agreement or contract.
Board hires a project manager.
Board seeks proposals from companies that want to design, build, manage and maintain the arena.
Board and city come to a consensus on the best proposal.
Determine how much of the $26.8 million in federal money is needed, such as for roads or water and sewer lines, to make the best proposal a reality.
Federal money not spent stays with the city to develop a project within government guidelines that the cash must be used for "site acquisition, planning, architectural design and construction of a convocation and community center."
The building could contain an auditorium, recreation center and government offices that serve the community. Vacant downtown buildings could be leveled to make way for whatever is built.
Source: Mayor George McKelvey