By Howard Packowitz
Bloomington is joining Normal in paying a consultant to study the feasibility and economic impact of a multi-sports complex at a yet-to-be determined McLean County site.
The Bloomington City Council agreed on a narrow 5-4 vote to spend $17,625, which is what Normal will pay Sports Facilities Advisory of Clearwater, Florida.
Alderman Diana Hauman is happy to see the Twin-Cities working together on economic development.
“What benefits one community benefits the other community, and we can’t make a decision on a potential sports complex based on guesses and suppositions,” Hauman said.
She said this is a modest investment to get an expert’s view.
“I’ve been vocal in the past about using consultants, but this is one time when I feel we need to invest in the expertise we do not have, and that we need,” Hauman added.
Aldermen Kimberly Bray, Joni Painter, David Sage, and Mboka Mwilambwe were opposed to the city’s participation.
The McLean County Board is not helping out financially with the study, but the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is contributing $11,750.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]