Aldermen put MetroCentre on a short leash
2 comments April 27th, 2009
The compromise resolution that passed Rockford’s City Council Monday reflected a harsh reality: aldermen were not of a mind to give the MetroCentre the $600,000 it wanted, no questions asked. The Metro folks wanted the money to keep the payroll checks rolling and the lights on. This was the second request for a bailout, and aldermen balked.
Instead, Metro gets just $250,000 and a blue-ribbon committee to have a look-see into their operations, and make suggestions for future governance.
Civic centers in small and medium-sized towns generally require subsidies to exist. Metro had an ongoing subsidy of $912,000 until 2007, when the decision was made to use most of that money for the annual fee for the new and improved Ice Hogs, now affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks.
I hope the committee is no-hold barred when it comes to examining what will work to make the arena a success, without future surprise requests for five-year, no interest loans.
I advocate redirecting the $400,000 annual subsidy to On the Waterfront to the MetroCentre. I also would like to see a thorough study of the possibility of contracting out Metro’s management to a national company, similar to what Peoria does. Why do we really need a separate unit of government, the MetroCentre Authority, when the aldermen and mayor are ultimately responsibile for the building?
