IT’S STILL ON THE TABLE.
THE BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL FAILED AGAIN LAST(MON) NITE TO ACT ON A PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH VENU-WORKS OF AMES TO MANAGE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM AND THE PORT. CITY MANAGER JIM FERNEAU SAYS BURLINGTON STEAMBOAT DAYS OFFICIALS ARE STILL HOLDING UP THE PROCESS.
CITY AND VENU-WORKS LAWYERS WILL MEET TODAY(TUE) TO TRY TO GET THINGS RESOLVED AND AN AGREEMENT READY FOR SIGNATURES. IN A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM THE CURRENT TALKS, COUNCILMAN SHANE MCCAMPBELL PROPOSED CLOSING THE AUDITORIUM FOR THREE YEARS AND USING THE SAVINGS TO HELP PAY FOR A NEW POLICE STATION AT THE U-S BANK BUILDING. MCCAMPBELL SAYS A 3-YEAR SHUTDOWN WOULD SAVE BURLINGTON TAXPAYERS ABOUT 300-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, BUT FERNEAU SAYS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT WOULD PROBABLY BE BETWEEN 150- AND 200-THOUSAND. FERNEAU SAYS A TEMPORARY CLOSURE WOULD BE BAD FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
