By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Sports Arena renovation repayment progress is moving along well, according to information given to the Hutchinson City Council Tuesday.
"Renovations were $29.4 million," said City Attorney Paul Brown. "Hutchinson Community College contributes $4.5 million toward that project. It's approximately $500,000 per year from them. We'll finish up, according to my calculations, in September of 2026. The amount unpaid on that bond issue for it is, after we pay in October, we pay $2.8 million and some change in October, the balance will be $13,664,000."
That puts the projected payoff date for the city's portion as mid-2024.
The City Council took a close look at the lease contract, which was brought before them Tuesday, and they want some changes before they'll approve it.
"We pay all the utilities, they pay all, what they call the commodities," Brown said. "Then, we each reimburse each other for 50% of those costs, so we basically split the expenses of the Sports Arena."
The proposal as sent over from the college would have made their payment to the city a flat fee. The council wants to keep the arrangement basically as it was before, in an effort not to get eaten up by inflation.
Brown will send over language to that effect for the college's consideration.