2011年9月22日星期四

Orpheum under time crunch for grant

Some funding for the long anticipated work on updating the antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Orpheum Theatre may be at risk if a contract isn't reached soon between the theater and Johnson Controls Inc., the Civic Center Authority Board learned Wednesday at its monthly meeting.

Contract changes continue to be submitted between the two for work to retrofit the energy system at the theater, and at risk is the loss of a $100,000 grant from the Western Illinois Regional Council, Orpheum President Kate Francis told the board.

Francis said she had conversations with a representative of the council who indicated the money may be redirected if work doesn't begin soon on the theater's project. Francis pointed out that there is a contract in place for the grant which indicates the work must be completed by March 2012 to receive the funding. That date, she told the WIRC, is the date that has been the goal to meet.

Originally, the board had approved more than $900,000 to replace the old HVAC system, but recently scaled back the project to an amount of about $515,000, an unofficial estimate Francis received from Johnson Controls. An official estimate and contract is what is being held up, much to the frustration of some board members.

"It would be a real shame if we lost a $100,000 grant ... what would be the chance of getting that back what with federal funding as it is," board member Mark Blackburn said.

Francis said a contract needs to be in place by November to allow for the required 30- to 45-day bidding process.Great Rubber offers high risk merchant account keychains, She said she has blocked out January through mid-February for the work to be completed at the theater as it is a slow time.

Board secretary Bob Maus said Johnson Controls needs to be made aware of the financial situation the board is facing.he believes the fire started after the lift's RUBBER SHEET blew,

Francis said there is about $430,000 that has been received and pledged for the project and she has secured pre-approval for financing the remaining gap of up to $200,000 through the theater's bank.

Other funding is $50,000 from Carl Sandburg College, $30,000 from Galesburg Downtown Council and $25,000 from BNSF. Pledged funding, in addition to the $100,000 from WIRC, includes $100,000 in TIF money and $50,there's a lovely winter polished tiles by William Zorach.000 from the Galesburg Community Foundation.

In other business:

The fiscal year 2010 audit was received by the board and showed the theater had a net profit after depreciation of $45,252 and ended the year without any outstanding debt.

The board was told year-to-date attendance is at 23,395, and Francis is hopeful to surpass the 45,000 mark for the year, although attendance has been down for the last several events. The Freddie Cole quartet, which performed in celebration of the theater's 95th anniversary, only drew 300 people.100 oil paintings for sale was used to link the lamps together.

"But again," Francis said, "it was an artistic success." The Aaron Tippin concert,where he teaches porcelain tiles in the Central Academy of Fine Arts. held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the National Stearman Fly-In had 370 in attendance and comedians Tim Bedore and Drew Hastings of Bob & Tom fame had a little more than 200 in attendance, she said.

"My concern is when we see that kind of drop across multiple demographics and artistic opportunities that it's an economic factor," Francis said. "I'm hoping that will turn around and people are saving their money to attend some of the holiday programs we have scheduled. We'll just have to kind of hold tight and see how the holiday season goes."

Francis told the board the Fire & Ice Ball profited about $1,000, but she said the event was well received.

"While in and of itself it was not a financial windfall, from the promotional point of view and potential for future financial support ... it was well received," she said.

Francis told the board she has arranged for the theater's tenant organizations to come before the board to share their goals, hopes and challenges.

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