Closure change means rental revenues down
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

The El Campo Civic Center remained open Friday since the building's renovation plans were temporarily scrapped.

So for the next 90 days, local civic organizations like the El Campo Lions and Rotary clubs will continue meeting there once a week, although other bookings are liable to be slim.

Some inquires into renting the community center between August and October have been called in, City Secretary Cindy Cerny said.

But until Thursday morning, those requests were turned down.

"I've actually called several of them now," Cerny said Friday.

The closure plan probably cost the city a fair amount of revenue, she said.

"Normally those three months are pretty full, especially on weekends. We missed out on several weddings."

For roughly the last year, the El Campo Civic Center had been scheduled for a roof-to-floor renovation between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31.

Wednesday night, however, City Council voted to reject the low bid on the makeover project saying it was almost $700,000 more than the anticipated cost (please see related story).

Now Council is looking at a possible project rebid this fall with a Civic Center closure mid-February through May.

That's put a stop to bookings during that time frame, Cerny said, adding there are currently about six events, including weddings, already set during those months.

Those may have to be changed if Council opts to proceed with a spring renovation plan when they discuss the issue at their first August meeting.