Performing Arts Center Board Asks
Jun. 12, 2008
Members of the Garrett Performing Arts Center Inc. (PAC) board of directors asked the county commissioners this week for continued support for the proposed PAC project.
"We understand that funding is tight at this time but sincerely hope that you will support us in the future," said PAC representative Bob Huebner.
In March 2006, a previous board of county commissioners voted to match any state funding for the facility, up to $1 million, provided that the PAC group could get commitments of at least $3 million prior to using county money. Those commissioners who approved the county match were Ernie Gregg and Dave Beard. Fred Holliday opposed.
Incumbent Gregg sound-ed optimistic on Tuesday that a performing arts center could still be built in the county.
"Truly this will happen; if not now, in the future," he told the PAC board.
Gregg was a member of the original PAC committee, which was formed in 2003 by the commissioners to study the center's feasibility, location, design, and funding options. The committee later became a not-for-profit incorporated board.
Incumbent Holliday and new commissioner Denny Glotfelty were cautious Tuesday about making any financial commitments to the PAC board.
"I think it's a good project; I think it will work at some point in time," Holliday told the members. "But I'm not sure that time is right now. I don't want to give you false hope."
Holliday noted that because of state funding cuts, the county is nearing a structural deficit and "taking a look at" its budgetary process. As a result, he said, the county has deferred some of its own projects to later years, including the new detention center.
Holliday indicated that county funding may be available for the PAC project in the future. "But for the next couple years," he said, "I can't see it [hap-pening] because of our financial situation."
"Clearly, it's not going to happen overnight; we all recognize that," said Huebner about the center.
He said it would take the board a couple of years to reach the point where it could actually spend mon-ey. But, Huebner stressed, the board could not wait until it had money in hand for each phase. Because of state and county funding cycle issues, the project could be delayed further if the PAC board waited.
The group has worked on the initiative for several years. In 2005, with funding supplied by the county, the PAC committee hired an architectural firm to prepare a schematic design.
Plans called for a 48,500-square-foot auditorium with 800 seats to be built in conjunction with a proposed exhibit hall/trade center in the Thayerville area. The exhibit hall, however, will now be built at the McHenry fairgrounds. As a result, the PAC board is looking for an alternative location.
Owners of another Thayerville site indicated they would donate property for the PAC. The board hired an architect and an engineer to study the feasibility of that site. They found it was possible to build a center there, but a multi-level structure would have to be built to accommodate parking, Huebner said.
"As soon as a location is pinned down," he said, "we will need to again employ an architectural firm to do a schematic design suitable for the new location so that we can then effectively begin to raise capital funds."
The PAC representative noted that his board has tentative commitments for two large donations: one for $5 million and another for $2 million.
With the support of the county commissioners, Sen. George Edwards and Del. Wendell Beitzel submitted a $1 million bond bill to the 2007 legislative session for architectural and engineering expenses for the center. But because of a state shortfall that year, the board was granted only $50,000 of its request.
The county commissioners did not support a bond bill for the center this year. But they did ask Edwards and Beitzel to introduce a $10 million bond bill to help fund county capital projects.
"Needless to say," Huebner told the commissioners, "we were disappointed when you decided not to support [our] bond bill request for the 2008 legislative session." He said the board would like to submit another bond bill next year.
"I think the commissioners' could voice support for this [project] even though at the present time you're not able to fund it," said local resident Troy Ellington. "I think that would go a long way toward helping to raise private funds as well. If you don't have the voice, support, of the commissioners, I think you'll have a lot of trouble."
Gregg said he had a good point. "We need to bear in mind," Gregg said, "financial commitment from the county is not going to be required anywhere in the near future, and I'm talking maybe something as long as five years."
Commissioner Glotfelty asked if the auditorium had to have 800 seats. He said it would be nice to know if this was more capacity than was needed. It was noted that Frostburg State University's main stage auditorium seats 350.
"Do we need 800 seats here, or do we need 350 or 400?" Glotfelty asked. "I'm not saying one way or another. But I think we need to look at all aspects."
Just because the center can be built, does not mean it can be filled, he said. Glotfelty added that the PAC was a good project, but that it was also important to consider such aspects as maintenance costs.
Huebner said the 800 seating number was needed to draw "top-notch" performers.
Board member Moe Turrentine noted that a recent Pittsburgh Symphony pops concert at Wisp Resort had more than 800 people in attendance. Many others had to be turned away because there were not enough seats. Turrentine added that the symphony wants to make Deep Creek Lake its "summer residence."
Gregg said the original PAC Committee spent much time reviewing the seating capacity issue. Many members thought that 500 was adequate, he said, but professionals in that venue indicated that 800 was the "magic number" needed for operational and efficiency reasons.
The PAC board gave the commissioners a folder containing 13 letters from residents supporting the project, including school superintendent Dr. Wendell Teets, Chamber of Commerce president Charlie Ross, and Director Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett County Department of Economic Development.
"As the letters indicate, such a facility will provide an economic benefit to the county; but even more important, it will provide a place which is sorely needed by the schools and the children of our county," Huebner said.
He asked that the commissioner consider verbally supporting the project, even if they could not support it financially
Members of the Garrett Performing Arts Center Inc. (PAC) board of directors asked the county commissioners this week for continued support for the proposed PAC project.
"We understand that funding is tight at this time but sincerely hope that you will support us in the future," said PAC representative Bob Huebner.
In March 2006, a previous board of county commissioners voted to match any state funding for the facility, up to $1 million, provided that the PAC group could get commitments of at least $3 million prior to using county money. Those commissioners who approved the county match were Ernie Gregg and Dave Beard. Fred Holliday opposed.
Incumbent Gregg sound-ed optimistic on Tuesday that a performing arts center could still be built in the county.
"Truly this will happen; if not now, in the future," he told the PAC board.
Gregg was a member of the original PAC committee, which was formed in 2003 by the commissioners to study the center's feasibility, location, design, and funding options. The committee later became a not-for-profit incorporated board.
Incumbent Holliday and new commissioner Denny Glotfelty were cautious Tuesday about making any financial commitments to the PAC board.
"I think it's a good project; I think it will work at some point in time," Holliday told the members. "But I'm not sure that time is right now. I don't want to give you false hope."
Holliday noted that because of state funding cuts, the county is nearing a structural deficit and "taking a look at" its budgetary process. As a result, he said, the county has deferred some of its own projects to later years, including the new detention center.
Holliday indicated that county funding may be available for the PAC project in the future. "But for the next couple years," he said, "I can't see it [hap-pening] because of our financial situation."
"Clearly, it's not going to happen overnight; we all recognize that," said Huebner about the center.
He said it would take the board a couple of years to reach the point where it could actually spend mon-ey. But, Huebner stressed, the board could not wait until it had money in hand for each phase. Because of state and county funding cycle issues, the project could be delayed further if the PAC board waited.
The group has worked on the initiative for several years. In 2005, with funding supplied by the county, the PAC committee hired an architectural firm to prepare a schematic design.
Plans called for a 48,500-square-foot auditorium with 800 seats to be built in conjunction with a proposed exhibit hall/trade center in the Thayerville area. The exhibit hall, however, will now be built at the McHenry fairgrounds. As a result, the PAC board is looking for an alternative location.
Owners of another Thayerville site indicated they would donate property for the PAC. The board hired an architect and an engineer to study the feasibility of that site. They found it was possible to build a center there, but a multi-level structure would have to be built to accommodate parking, Huebner said.
"As soon as a location is pinned down," he said, "we will need to again employ an architectural firm to do a schematic design suitable for the new location so that we can then effectively begin to raise capital funds."
The PAC representative noted that his board has tentative commitments for two large donations: one for $5 million and another for $2 million.
With the support of the county commissioners, Sen. George Edwards and Del. Wendell Beitzel submitted a $1 million bond bill to the 2007 legislative session for architectural and engineering expenses for the center. But because of a state shortfall that year, the board was granted only $50,000 of its request.
The county commissioners did not support a bond bill for the center this year. But they did ask Edwards and Beitzel to introduce a $10 million bond bill to help fund county capital projects.
"Needless to say," Huebner told the commissioners, "we were disappointed when you decided not to support [our] bond bill request for the 2008 legislative session." He said the board would like to submit another bond bill next year.
"I think the commissioners' could voice support for this [project] even though at the present time you're not able to fund it," said local resident Troy Ellington. "I think that would go a long way toward helping to raise private funds as well. If you don't have the voice, support, of the commissioners, I think you'll have a lot of trouble."
Gregg said he had a good point. "We need to bear in mind," Gregg said, "financial commitment from the county is not going to be required anywhere in the near future, and I'm talking maybe something as long as five years."
Commissioner Glotfelty asked if the auditorium had to have 800 seats. He said it would be nice to know if this was more capacity than was needed. It was noted that Frostburg State University's main stage auditorium seats 350.
"Do we need 800 seats here, or do we need 350 or 400?" Glotfelty asked. "I'm not saying one way or another. But I think we need to look at all aspects."
Just because the center can be built, does not mean it can be filled, he said. Glotfelty added that the PAC was a good project, but that it was also important to consider such aspects as maintenance costs.
Huebner said the 800 seating number was needed to draw "top-notch" performers.
Board member Moe Turrentine noted that a recent Pittsburgh Symphony pops concert at Wisp Resort had more than 800 people in attendance. Many others had to be turned away because there were not enough seats. Turrentine added that the symphony wants to make Deep Creek Lake its "summer residence."
Gregg said the original PAC Committee spent much time reviewing the seating capacity issue. Many members thought that 500 was adequate, he said, but professionals in that venue indicated that 800 was the "magic number" needed for operational and efficiency reasons.
The PAC board gave the commissioners a folder containing 13 letters from residents supporting the project, including school superintendent Dr. Wendell Teets, Chamber of Commerce president Charlie Ross, and Director Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett County Department of Economic Development.
"As the letters indicate, such a facility will provide an economic benefit to the county; but even more important, it will provide a place which is sorely needed by the schools and the children of our county," Huebner said.
He asked that the commissioner consider verbally supporting the project, even if they could not support it financially
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