Setback on events arena deal

The Independence City Council approved 7-0 Monday night an emergency ordinance canceling the agreement the city signed with International Coliseum Company Inc. to oversee the construction of the proposed Independence Events Center.

No explanation was given by officials but City Manager Robert Heacock said Monday afternoon the project still has the green light to proceed.

“We thought we had everything settled in the agreement but we are finding an issue or two that we still have to work through,” Heacock said. “We thought we were there. We are finding out that we have an issue, so we have to back up and try to work through that. Our intent would be to move forward with the project, and we believe the other agreements are in place and so forth.”

In a series of 7-0 votes on April 21, the council approved agreements with ICC, The Benham Companies, Sink Combs Dethlefs, P.C., J.E. Dunn, the Western Professional Hockey League and Global Entertainment related to the construction and operation of the proposed arena.

ICC, a division of Global Entertainment, was suppose to provide project consultant services for the 5,800-seat multi-purpose facility for $1.97 million, while Benham  signed on for construction management services at a cost of $575,000.

Sink Combs Dethlefs signed on for architectural services at $2.2 million, J.E. Dunn inked a deal for nearly $3.9 million to provide site development work, and the city also signed an agreement with the Western Professional Hockey League to provide a minor league hockey team. All those deals remain in place, including the management contract with Global once the facility is opened.

Global Entertainment signed to open, manage, promote, market, ticket and operate the Events Center.