Independence approves agreements for center

It's official.

The ink is dry on the contract between the city of Independence and Global Properties, its subsidiaries and companies involved in the design and construction of the new Independence Events Center as the Independence City Council unanimously approved Monday night the agreements for the nearly $60 million facility.

In a series of 7-0 votes, the council approved agreements with International Coliseums Co., The Benham Companies, Sink Combs Dethlefs, P.C., J.E. Dunn, the Western Professional Hockey League and Global Entertainment.

ICC, a division of Global Entertainment, will provide project consultant services for the 5,800-seat multi-purpose facility for $1.97 million. Benham is on board for construction management services at a cost of $575,000. Sink Combs Dethlefs signed on for architect services at $2.2 million, while J.E. Dunn will provide site development work for nearly $3.9 million.

The city also signed an agreement with the Western Professional Hockey League to provide an anchor tenant for the Events Center, namely a minor league hockey team playing in the Central Hockey League. Overall, Global Entertainment signed to open, manage, promote, market, ticket and operate the Events Center.

"All of those companies have great reputations," Independence City Manager Robert Heacock said.

Independence Director of Finance Jim Harlow said the city has taken due diligence with each of the agreements to protect the city's coffers. Language in the contracts and an escalator clause in the community improvement district tax will ensure the city will not end up on the wrong side of the deal if the project sours.

"We have several reserve accounts and the ability to terminate the contract with Global (Entertainment)," Harlow said, adding the CID tax levied for the area will be a half-cent for 20 years, 5/8 cents for 10 years after that and could possibly escalate to one cent if applicable. "That is in case we have a downturn in the economy that is worse than what we are seeing now."

Global Properties President Steve Bielewicz was in town from Phoenix to attend the council meeting and said Independence is the ideal location for one of the company's latest developments. Global Properties is the development arm of Global Entertainment.

"We want to be on the fringes of a big city," Bielewicz said. "We like cities that are growing and affluent and that's Independence and Jackson County."