City lacks figures for Chevy Centre

City officials haven't had updated financial information since September.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- City officials want information by next week about the finances and operational costs of the city-owned Chevrolet Centre from the facility's management team.
City officials haven't received financial projections from Global Entertainment Corp. of Phoenix and Compass Facilities Management Co. of Ames, Iowa -- the companies managing the center -- since September, said city Finance Director David Bozanich.
Bozanich said city officials asked the arena's management team to turn over that information to the city by next week.
Delay in obtaining the information stems in part from the December departure of Jeff Kossow as the center's executive director, Bozanich said.
"We've asked to be updated and been told the delays are due to personnel changes," he said. "This isn't acceptable."
No contact
Attempts Tuesday to reach Roger Swanson, vice president of Global Entertainment's Facility Management Division and Kossow's temporary replacement at the Chevrolet Centre, and Wayne Davis, Global's vice president who is based in Phoenix, weren't successful.
Mayor Jay Williams, who has been in office since Jan. 1, said he had little information about the center and hasn't seen a detailed financial projection for the facility.
"Outside of [reducing] the homicide rate, one of my primary objectives and concerns is getting a firm understanding of the finances of the center," he said. "I want to make sure it's a successful venture. It's something we have to stay on top of not only on a day-to-day basis, but long-term."
Concerned and bothered
Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st and the legislative body's finance committee chairman for the past week, said he is concerned and bothered that council doesn't know what's going on with the center's operations and finances.
Gillam wants center or city administration officials to provide that information monthly at a council meeting.
The estimated construction cost of the center jumped from $41 million to $45.38 million in the span of about a month this past summer.
"I was very concerned with the increases," Gillam said. "I want to know what's going on with events and what's going on financially with the center. We want the public to know what's going on."
Even though the facility has held events since Oct. 29, city officials say the final construction cost may not be known until as late as the end of next month.
Change orders for the project are still expected to be submitted in the coming weeks, city officials say.
The city borrowed $12 million at 6.5 percent interest from Sky Bank in late August to make up a projected funding gap for the arena. Most of the center's construction cost was paid with a $26.8 million federal grant.
Financial projections from the center's management team obtained in August by The Vindicator estimate a $1,153,802 profit for this year.
At the time, Bozanich said the $45.38 million construction cost for the city was a worst-case scenario.
skolnick@vindy.com