Aldermen put MetroCentre on a short leash
April 27th, 2009 at 10:39pm Chuck Sweeny
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?
Entry Filed under: MetroCentre
2 Comments Add your own
1. egyas | April 28th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Wekk Chuck, I promised your readers that I would be back here to apologize if I was wrong on what the city would do. Looks like I can spare myself that, since they did EXACTLY what I said they would do. They forked over the money. They will continue to fork over money that we simply cannot afford (and it seems like most folks don’t want to fork over) until we hold those that voted for it responsible.
Now, as to your statement about redirecting OTW money to the Metro, I must disagree. First, I don’t want to throw any more good money after bad. Second, I’m going to ask this question because I honestly don’t know the answer.
Apparently the city gives $400,000 to OTW every year. I was under the impression that when all was said and done, OTW turned a profit and that the city got back more then it put in. Is this impression incorrect?
If it is not incorrect, then I call it a good investment. If it is incorrect, then I say cancel OTW, at least until the city is back on solid ground with numbers in the black. We simply cannot afford to keep throwing money to the Metro Centre, NAT, Coronado, OTW, etc.
At least to the naked eye it seems like Rockford’s citizens like OTW and seem to support it annually.
2. urbiased | April 28th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Where are you guys on this??
http://www.wrex.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3700134&h1=MetroCentre%20could%20lose%20Blackhawks%20affiliation&vt1=v&at1=undefined&d1=49233&LaunchPageAdTag=News&undefined&activePane=info&rnd=22203556
Quit protecting your friend Larry. Report facts and maybe more people will read your paper!!! Why am I breaking this story on RRSTAR.com? It’s a shame that you care more about your relationships with elected officials than holding them accountable.
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