Council re-appropriates $19,265 refund to Event Center; members debate project costs and management

The Steuben County Council approved re-appropriating $19,265 in refunded funds to the Major Moves Event Center project after NIPSCO reimbursed Steury Builders and Steury reimbursed the county.

President Richard Shipe read the commissioners' request explaining the funds are a credit for moving a gas line and must be re-appropriated to the project line before the Auditor can allow expenditure. Jim Getz said the county has spent over $2.1 million on the Event Center and cautioned that county government should avoid competing directly with private-sector event businesses; he said the public sentiment he has heard is concern about the cost. Dan Caruso urged exploring private-sector management via RFPs so the county could act as landlord and collect fees rather than managing event planning and operations; Caruso said, "I haven’t had a single constituent come to me and say they are excited that we are doing this." Ruth Beer moved to approve the appropriation; Linda Hansen seconded and the motion carried 7–0.

Council directed the Auditor to re-appropriate the refunded amount to the event center project so it can be used for additional costs that may arise.