By: Diane Benjamin
I’ve done many Coliseum stories in the past year and changes have been made to the financial statements produced by Central Illinois Arena Management (CIAM) because of errors I have pointed out. There are still more and the management fee CIAM pays itself doesn’t make any sense.
Worse though is Concession Sales. BMI Concessions – John Butler – is not audited like the rest of the Coliseum. The City (taxpayers) is under contract to receive either 15% of total sales or 32% depending on where in the Coliseum the sale takes place. It goes back to when suite sales were popular.
Back in October I sent a Freedom of Information Act request for the concession reports for the last big event held at the Coliseum, a two-day concert last February. I asked for the entire report which is a multi-page document generated on the City owned Micros machines. I did received an answer on that FOIA denying it entirely. Then I filed another request just for the Concession Sales by stand.
It was also denied illegally. Contractors like CIAM are not exempt from FOIA under the law. I even included a like to the Illinois attorney General’s ruling. You can see the City’s response on a post from yesterday: http://blnnews.com/2014/12/10/more-hiding-documents-from-mayor-transparency/
So, the bottom line is:
- Taxpayers paid for the Coliseum
- John Butler (BMI Concessions) is doing business from a taxpayer asset
- Taxpayers are entitled under the contract to a percent of the sales
- The taxpayers have no proof they are being paid the correct amount
- Either City government doesn’t know either or they are hiding the truth
The City also refused the payroll from the Coliseum. CIAM is allowed to pay themselves whatever they want, even if salaries result in losses. Again, the Attorney General has ruled contractors are subject to FOIA. The taxpayers deserve to know how much is being paid to who because it’s your property. The audited financial statements show last year the City of Bloomington contributed $2,646,000 to the Coliseum. See the report – Page 4 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7481
Your money is being funneled to the Coliseum, but you aren’t allowed to know for what or who ultimately takes it home in a paycheck.
Instead, citizens are supposed to believe the Coliseum is generating tons of economic activity and a hotel will generate even more.
(Sure)
Sue them.
I plan to!
I have researched several smaller and mid sized arenas by cruising several web sites. I cannot find ANY arena in the ENTIRE country that lists a PRESIDENT (Butler) and VICE PRESIDENT (Rogers) on their staffing page. A president and vice president of what? Every arena I have found either has a general manager or executive director. My question is why does Bloomington pay for two executives? What are they in charge of?
http://www.independenceeventscenter.com/page/contact-us
http://www.springfieldpc3.com/connect-with-us/the-center-staff.aspx
Anyone can google Bart Rogers and see that he oversees and operates the Peoria hockey franchise. How many VPs/General Managers in the country that are paid by a publically funded arena are allowed to run an out of town sports franchise and is arrogant enough to be quoted on line, on television and in the newspapers? It almost sounds like he rubs the taxpayers nose in it…that he is protected by the City Manager and Mayor. How much money are these two being paid by taxpayers? How much money is Butler’s sister being paid for what it looks like doing a lousy job selling club memberships?? and suites if you compare those sales to years past. they have dropped like a lead balloon. BLNNEWS you are doing a great job asking the questions.