This article has been updated to include the signed version of the interlocal agreement.
An interlocal agreement for the Monroe Convention Center expansion project has been finalized now that it has all the signatures required from local government officials.
Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson announced Friday she signed the document, which outlines a path forward for the project, following approvals by the city council, the county council and the county commissioners.
Interlocal agreement
In Thomson’s announcement, made via social media, she said finalizing the agreement is a critical step representing collaboration in local government.
“This agreement is not only the path toward a project together; it is a sign of the renewed partnerships that we've all been hoping for in our community: a city and county that can work together,” Thomson said.
Efforts to finalize an interlocal have a years-long history and have been full of trials and tribulations. The project itself had been in a stalemate for years and was a major point of contention between city and county officials.
Last year, former mayor John Hamilton and city council members approved a different version of the document. The county council and commissioners did not sign the agreement because they were concerned by how it outlined appointments to the Convention Visitors Commission, which oversees expenditures of Inkeeper’s Tax revenues.
The now-approved version includes amendments that removed language county officials disliked.
Former draft interlocal
The interlocal outlines how different government bodies will work together to advance the expansion. It also outlines how a Capital Improvement Board overseeing the project can operate.
Thomson said an expanded convention center is needed because the city and county are losing out on conferences that might otherwise come to Bloomington annually.
“These are conferences that bring people who eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores, and bring revenue to our community,” she said. “That revenue allows us to build bike paths, do neighborhood art projects, and provide other amenities which allow us to enhance our quality of life and quality of place.”
At their Wednesday meeting, the commissioners praised their city and county colleagues for working together to approve the agreement.
Commissioner Julie Thomas, who is also president of the board of commissioners, said this step indicates better collaboration.
“I think it reflects a turning of the page in city-county relations to an even better place than it has ever been,” Thomas said.
Meanwhile, the Capital Improvement Board is selecting an owner’s representative firm. The owner’s rep will work with the construction manager to ensure deadlines and the project budget are met.
