Winona City Council Approves Ad-Hoc Committee Members
Two new members were appointed to a committee that will explore the pre-design elements of a new multi-use facility for Winona. Monday night the city council approved the addition of Mike Leaf and Richard MacDonald to the multi-purpose event center and arena ad-hoc committee. The proposed facility would house events ranging from The Great River Shakespeare Festival and other arts events to sporting events. According to City Manager Eric Sorenson, the committee should be ready to recommend a consultant for the project by September. The state legislature has appropriated $250,000 for a pre-design study. If such a facility is eventually approved by council members, much of the funding for the project, which is estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $30 million, would come from the state. A group of local investors has expressed interest in raising private funds which could aid in securing state monies. The funding issue would most likely not be addressed until the 2010 Legislative Session.
