Regents likely to OK arena agreement
Lincoln Journal Star
February 11, 2010
By Kevin Abourezk
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is likely to approve an agreement in March to create a joint public agency with the city of Lincoln over the proposed Haymarket arena.
Of the eight regents, four said this week they support an agreement to create a joint public agency with the city to finance the arena and for Husker basketball teams to play there.
A fifth regent, Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons, said he expects to support the agreement, though he needs to study its details further.
"I expect to vote for it," he said. "I have to look at it a bit more closely before I commit."
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"I'm in very solid support of this," McClurg said. "I think it's just the right thing to do."
The regents had been expected to vote today on the agreement. But the university was unable to meet guidelines for providing enough public notice of the regents' special meeting today on the agreement, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said Thursday.
Regents are expected to vote on the agreement March 5.
The regents are expected to vote today on a memorandum of understanding with the city that would spell out the terms by which the university and the city would operate the arena.
They also are expected to vote on a resolution offering support for a May 11 ballot question in Lincoln over a portion of the arena financing.
The arena proposal includes new roads, parking garages, a hotel, retail development and an indoor ice skating complex built west of the Haymarket on an existing railyard.
The City Council voted Monday to approve the joint public agency agreement and an agreement for the Husker basketball teams to play in the city-owned arena.
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"I think it will create jobs that will retain young people in this community," he said. "It's exciting times for Lincoln, Nebraska."
