OTTUMWA —
The management agreement between the city of Ottumwa and Centerplate, Inc. for the operation of the Bridge View Center will be expiring this December. That expiration will bring an end to a five-year qualified management agreement between the city and Centerplate.
Among the many items in the consent agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting is to approve the official notice to Centerplate that its agreement with the city will not be renewed. It is a routine procedure, according to City Administrator Joe Helfenberger, as Bridge View Center will be under new management heading into 2012.
“According to our current contract (with Centerplate), we need to give them notice at least four months prior to the end of the contract,” Helfenberger said. “It’s fairly routine. Centerplate sent a letter to us stating they would not be putting in a bid.”
Centerplate, located in Spartanburg, S.C., is one of the largest premium hospitality services companies working with several facilities worldwide, primarily in sports arenas. The company, however, is looking at moving away from providing the kind of services required for Bridge View Center.
“They are getting out of facilities management,” Helfenberger said. “I believe Bridge View was the last location they were not renewing contracts with.”
Only one company has sent a proposal to the city to take over the operational management of Bridge View Center. After being beaten out by Centerplate in 2006, the Ames-based Venue Works company has expressed their desire to again be chosen by the city to be in charge of Bridge View.
“The bid from Venue Works is very comparable to that of what we had with Centerplate,” Helfenberger said.
Helfenberger also told the Courier on Monday of an official date set for the interview process that will be open to the public with representatives from Venue Works. The interview will be held from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Bridge View Center.
Helfenberger said that Ottumwa City Council, Wapello County Board of Supervisors, Bridge View Center staff and any interested parties are encouraged to attend the interview.
“We’re asking all of the public to attend,” Helfenberger added.
Venue Works is a company that may be more familiar with running a facility such as the Bridge View Center. The company is also in charge of several facilities similar to that of Bridge View throughout the state, including the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer, which has several similar features to Bridge View.
Venue Works is familiar to southeast Iowa having spent time temporally managing the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center for seven months from July 2008 to January 2009. Jon Elbaum, former general manager of Bridge View, also works within the company as current executive director of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, during tonight’s meeting, the council will look to reallocate excess funds from roof repairs done on City Hall. As a part of the City Hall reconstruction project, final costs of the budgeted $70,000 roof repair project came in at just $51,783.24.
The remaining balance of $18,216 that could be used for additional funding as a part of the City Hall entrance reconstruction. Attic insulation and electric lighting are areas where more funding might be needed.
The council will also consider adopting a policy for the Ottumwa Transit department regarding public comment required by the Federal Transit Agency and the Iowa Department of Transportation. The city policy would establish a procedure to solicit and consider public comment before raising a fare or carrying out a major reduction of transit service.
“We’re starting to see more public comment being taken as we have more of an autonomous city service,” Helfenberger said.
Local News
BV-Centerplate agreement to expire
Venue Works throws hat into ring
- Local News
-
-
Bridge work will close trails section
The closure of the trails between Black Lake and Mary Street is expected to remain in effect through November.
-
PHOTOS: Fire and Ice — Raising funds for smoke detectors
Cooper Chickering, 3, of Ottumwa, enjoys the “ice” part of the “Fire and Ice” event, while Ottumwa Master Firefighter Bill Keith shows a crowd the “fire” part of the fundraiser, which raises money to buy smoke detectors for Ottumwans who need them.
-
Ottumwa schools toughen Internet policy
This week, the Ottumwa school board adopted a new policy for Internet use in the district. The new policy fits with The Children’s Internet Protection Act, a federal regulation tied to government funding.
-
‘A peek behind the curtains:’ Weekend events gear community to check out trails, downtown
This weekend's events to benefit the trails and educate the community of what’s new and changing downtown include the annual Tips for Trails at the Tom Tom Tap and the mediathon to raise money for the Wapello County Trails Council.
-
Eisenhower bridge repair in the works
Insurance companies are still hammering out final reimbursements after a truck hauling a wide-load wind turbine struck the Eisenhower Pedestrian Bridge in April 2011. The city also finalized severing ties with Centerplace and blasts the company's management of Bridge View Center.
-
Cremer takes command of Veterans Affairs office
The Wapello County Board of Supervisors has approved hiring Marty Cremer of Agency as the county’s new Veterans Affairs director. Dan Hoy, the outgoing director, told the board his last day will be Friday.
-
PHOTO: Rewarding field day at Wildwood
Students at Wildwood Elementary School reap the rewards of collecting Box Tops worth more than $2,000. The school had 12 activity stations Monday at its Field Day, where Wildwood alumni came back to help the kids have fun.
-
Ottumwa school district, teachers agree on contract
The Ottumwa school district approved the 2012-13 Master Contract for teachers on a unanimous vote.
-
IHCC eyes 2012-13 budget estimates
A potential state funding increase could add $800,000 in new money to the Indian Hills Community College's bank account next year. On the other hand, an estimated decrease in student population may reduce funds by about $800,000.
-
Gothic House Center has new outdoor exhibit area
Four outdoor panels will be available to visitors who stop by when the American Gothic House Center is closed. One panel features the history of the American Gothic House, and the others are about Grant Wood’s painting, his life and the impact of this painting.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Bridge work will close trails section
