By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Elected leaders from Bloomington will meet with their counterparts in Normal just after Thanksgiving to figure out if a multi-sports complex is in the Twin-Cities’ future.

After Bloomington’s last council meeting, it was revealed there will be a joint session next Monday evening to discuss if it’s feasible to continue pursuing a $43.6 million project.

Local leaders acknowledge they have yet to see private investors assume control on construction of a facility that might include a 130,000 square foot dome, and an outdoor venue large enough for a dozen lighted fields with synthetic turf.

Mayor Tari Renner seemed less than enthusiastic when the topic came up at last week’s council meeting.

Renner said, “there’s pretty broad agreement that the private sector needs to help take the lead on that. The question is how do we manage that? Would it be a blue ribbon commission that takes the lead?”

The two municipal governments and the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau shared in the cost of $47,000 study that was completed during the summer of last year, and included recommendations that will soon be outdated.

“While I believe that there is private interest, there is not that private interest that is taking the lead on this,” said City Manager Tim Gleason.

“So it comes before the city and the town to have this discussion and see what the next steps are,” Gleason said.

The December 2 joint meeting would be held before Normal’s regular council session at Uptown Station.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]