Mayor says arena will close at least temporarily
WENATCHEE — Even if local leaders agree on a fix for the Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz believes it will have to close its doors for at least part of this year. The city of Wenatchee has agreed to help cover the arena’s operating expenses through the end of the Wenatchee Wild hockey season in March. The facility is expected to start operating in a deficit sometime in April.
Bill would let financially ‘fragile’ Wenatchee tax without public vote
WENATCHEE — Legislation that would allow Wenatchee to impose a sales tax increase without a public vote to help pay for Town Toyota Center cleared its first hurdle on Tuesday. The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed SSB 5984, which primarily calls for a financial review of local governments and special taxing districts across the state.
Crowd gathers to support arena
About 900 people crowded on the main ice rink at the Town Toyota Center on Monday to show their support for the troubled arena. “It was overwhelming,” said Tami Gurnard, registrar for the Wenatchee Amateur Hockey Association, who organized the picture. “We had people from the local quilting group, curlers, figure skaters, hockey players, season ticket holders for the Wild, and people who were just fans of the building.”
Bankruptcy looms as groups try to rally support for troubled arena
WENATCHEE — As supporters of the Town Toyota Center try to rally the community to keep it from closing, the arena’s governing board has begun exploring the possibility of bankruptcy. The Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District board on Thursdsay agreed to interview two law firms — one from Florida and one from the Northwest — to possibly retain for legal advise in case it has to file bankruptcy as a result of the arena’s outstanding $42 million debt.
Arena users wanted for group photo
WENATCHEE — Calling all hockey players, figure skaters, curlers and anyone else who uses or supports the Town Toyota Center. Youth hockey leaders are trying to get everyone together for a group picture at the arena at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Counties say ‘No’ to 0.2-percent tax measure; new plan emerges
WENATCHEE — A regional 0.2-percent sales tax increase is off the table, but local leaders are pursuing a new plan that would have Wenatchee paying an even higher tax rate and surrounding communities a smaller one.
Counties say 'No' to .2-percent tax measure
A regional .2-percent sales tax increase is off the table, but local leaders are still pursuing the possibility of a smaller one.
Investors seek extension of lawsuit window
WENATCHEE — Investors holding about one-third of the Town Toyota Center’s outstanding debt have asked the arena’s owner and nine local governments to waive the statute of limitations for being sued. The Denver-based law firm of Davis & Ceriani sent letters and e-mails Monday to the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District seeking the extension by Feb. 29.
Upper Valley walloped by snow
PLAIN — It’s a lot of snow, even for an area that gets a lot of snow. The Plain and Lake Wenatchee areas have been buried by more than 6 feet of snow in less than two weeks. That’s more than any other populated area in North Central Washington except for the isolated Holden Village up Lake Chelan, according to the National Weather Service.
Federal investigation letter sits unopened in arena safe for nearly two months
WENATCHEE — Nearly two months ago, a delivery service showed up at the Town Toyota Center with an overnight package. A part-time arena employee signed for it and placed it in a locked safe. No one saw it again until Monday. Unknown to arena officials, the package contained a letter from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission explaining that the agency had started in investigation into how the arena was built and financed. The letter requested extensive documents, emails and other communications from the arena’s owner, the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District.
Rock Island council approves arena tax vote
ROCK ISLAND — The City of Rock Island became the third local government to support the concept of asking voters for a sales tax increase to save the Town Toyota Center. The council voted Thursday night to write a letter to East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy in support of his proposal.
City approves $20 car tab hike
WENATCHEE — A $20 increase in car tabs for Wenatchee drivers will go into effect later this year. City Council members, who also serve as the board for a newly created Transportation Benefit District that will oversee the spending of the tax revenues, voted Thursday night to impose the fee increase later this year. It takes about six months to go into effect.
City angling to contract out pool operations
WENATCHEE — The City Council went against a recommendation from its parks advisory board and voted Thursday to pursue contracting out pool operations this summer. The Wenatchee Parks and Recreation Advisory Board supported the idea of the city continuing to operate the pool itself.
Arena board asks city to chip in through April
WENATCHEE — The Town Toyota Center’s governing board will ask the city of Wenatchee to help cover the arena’s operating expenses at least through the end of the Wenatchee Wild hockey season. The Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District board heard a report Monday that the arena should have enough money to operate partway into April.
Old landfill complicates city’s plan to sell land
WENATCHEE — An old, buried landfill is hampering Wenatchee’s plans to sell its waterfront property. The city had hoped to sell the approximately 3-acre site on Worthen Street near the eastern end of Riverwalk Crossing for $1.9 million. It is centrally located in an area that the city hopes will be redeveloped into a commercial and residential district.
City’s aging fire trucks frequently down for repairs
WENATCHEE — When a warehouse fire exploded and threatened surrounding businesses near Chelan last October, fire officials asked Wenatchee to send a ladder truck and crew. But the Wenatchee Fire Department couldn’t help. Its ladder trucks were both out of service.
Cashmere Council supports sales tax proposal
WENATCHEE — The Cashmere City Council voted this week to support a plan to seek a public vote on a sales tax increase to help pay off Town Toyota Center. The council voted unanimously on Monday to write a letter in support of East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy’s proposal.
More snow coming Tuesday
WENATCHEE — The region will have about a day’s reprieve to dig out from a barrage of snowstorms before snow starts coming down again. More snow is expected across North Central Washington starting Tuesday morning and continuing through the day, perhaps dumping another couple of inches in Wenatchee and up to 6 inches in Leavenworth and the Methow Valley.
Parks board recommends not contracting out the pool
WENATCHEE — The parks advisory board is recommending that the city of Wenatchee continue to operate its pool, rather than hiring a concessionaire to do it. The board voted 3-2 on Friday in favor of keeping it a city operation, rejecting proposals from five potential pool operators that included Velocity Swimming and the Wenatchee Valley YMCA.
Bellingham developers blast slow approach to Pybus market
WENATCHEE — The Port of Chelan County hopes to decide within the four to six weeks if it will help develop the proposed Pybus Public Market. But the port and city of Wenatchee are not acting quick enough on the project for a Bellingham development group that wants to build on its own waterfront property nearby.
Plows staying focused on main streets
Several days of steady snowfall — and some unexpected equipment problems — have kept city and county snowplows hopping around the region.
Lacy less convinced that sales tax is the answer
WENATCHEE — East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy appears to be taking a step back from his Town Toyota Center bail-out proposal, saying he wants to first find out if it would cost his city more to hand over sales tax revenues for 15 years or to be sued by spurned investors. While he’s still promoting his proposal for a regional sales tax to government leaders around the region, he’s now saying that he’s not “married” to the plan and may ultimately advise his own city council not to pursue it.
Sales tax is key to arena staying open
WENATCHEE — The thermostat has been turned down and the lights are being shut off early these days at the Town Toyota Center. Now ticket sales for what is normally the arena’s best-selling show are sketchy. The question on everyone’s minds these days is how long can the arena stay open under its current legal and financial constraints.
Awards to be given at local MLK Day celebration
WENATCHEE — A high school graduation specialist and a music program will receive the 2012 Civil Rights and Social Justice Awards during the community Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration tonight. The ceremony starts at 6 p.m. at Wenatchee Valley College’s campus theater.
Questions arise over private use of public sidewalks in downtown
WENATCHEE — The temporary railing is gone, but Caffé Mela owner Darren Reynolds hopes to have permanent fencing around his outdoor seating area by summer. Reynolds’ first attempt at penning in the seating area outside of his downtown business last fall has propelled the city of Wenatchee and the Wenatchee Downtown Association to develop new guideliness for the private use of public sidewalks in the city’s core.
Councils get mixed messages on Town Toyota Center debt issue
CHELAN — East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy faced some competition as he kicked off his Town Toyota Center road show this week. Lacy spoke with the Chelan and Entiat city councils on Thursday night and Chelan County commissioners earlier this week about his plan for paying off the arena’s outstanding debt with the help of all nine jurisdictions that helped build it three years ago.
Justices consider arena’s dilemma
WENATCHEE — The state’s high court Tuesday questioned whether the Town Toyota Center will ever be able to pay its own way and, if not, whether the city of Wenatchee can afford to do it.
City gives arena a helping hand
WENATCHEE — The city of Wenatchee will provide free financial and computer help to the Town Toyota Center and use reserve funds to take over the arena’s kitchen equipment lease to help keep the facility afloat. “The city is trying to do what it can to help out,” Mayor Frank Kuntz said. “This makes it so they can stay open at least until March. Without our concessions, they would not have made it until then.”
Arena debt question headed to Supreme Court
PFD appeals Judge Bridge’s September ruling
WENATCHEE — The state Supreme Court will step into the Town Toyota Center fray next week. The high court has been asked by the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District, which owns the financially troubled arena, to overturn a lower-court decision that impedes the district from refinancing its nearly $42 million debt.
Leaders will move forward with sales tax idea
WENATCHEE — Mayors and commissioners from Chelan and Douglas counties appear to favor asking voters for a sales tax increase to pay off the Town Toyota Center’s debt. “We’re all getting behind Mayor Lacy’s plan,” said Douglas County Commissioner Ken Stanton. “It’s the only one that doesn’t need any legislative assistance. We don’t have the luxury of time to go the Legislature.”
Leaders will move forward with sales tax idea
WENATCHEE — Mayors and commissioners from Chelan and Douglas counties appear to favor asking voters for a sales tax increase to pay off the Town Toyota Center’s debt. Officials from nine governments in the two counties met this morning at the arena to continue hashing out how to rescue the troubled facility from default and prevent lawsuits from spurned investors.
Three plans for saving Town Toyota Center
WENATCHEE — Three local plans have now emerged for solving the Town Toyota Center debt crisis. They all would require a public vote and some would need approval from the state Legislature. In all the scenarios, the city of Wenatchee would carry the largest burden for paying off the $42 million outstanding debt.
Behind-the-scenes action keeps Wild fans happy
WENATCHEE — When Blake Roubus scored early in the third period of Saturday’s Wenatchee Wild game, the crowd jumped to its feet to cheer and then looked up to the big screen. They saw a quick camera shot of the team celebrating on the ice, following by an ad for Jerry’s Auto Supply and then the anticipated instant replay of what ended up being the game-winning goal. Then came video of fans celebrating.
One killed, several injured in several accidents
A Tacoma man was killed and at least five other people were injuries in a string of accidents around the region this morning.
Prowlers hit cars, school bus
CASHMERE — Cell phones, navigation systems and a set of keys were taken from a half dozen unlocked vehicles in Cashmere late Wednesday or early Thursday. The keys were taken out of an unlocked Cashmere School District bus parked at the bus garage, said Lt. Jerry Moore of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
Snow advisory continues through Friday afternoon
By Michelle McNiel World staff writer
Highway closed by fatal crash
BLEWETT PASS —Highway closed by fatal crash One person was killed this morning in a vehicle accident near Blewett Pass, according to the State Patrol.
Town Toyota Center headed for more trouble
WENATCHEE — With mounting legal bills, the Town Toyota Center is on course to start losing money by March. It’s unclear yet how the money shortfall might affect special events or the daily activities of the arena. However, Wenatchee officials fear that they will be asked to bail out the center.
Snow to follow record warm temps
WENATCHEE — Heavy snow is expected to fall along the eastern Cascades tonight on the heels of Wednesday’s unseasonably warm temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued winter weather and hazardous driving warnings starting around 4 p.m. this afternoon for up to 7 inches of snow in areas of North Central Washington. The heaviest snow is expected on the Waterville Plateau north to the Okanogan Valley, the Methow Valley, Plain and Stehekin. Wenatchee may get a half inch.
Mayor, council members to be sworn in
WENATCHEE — Frank Kuntz will be sworn in as Wenatchee’s new mayor Wednesday afternoon at City Hall. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges will swear in the new mayor, as well as incoming City Council members Bryan Campbell and Linda Herald and re-elected council members Karen Rutherford and Mark Kulaas.
Family pulls the plug on lights after three nights of vandalism
WENATCHEE — Scott Hopkins started right after Halloween putting up his brightly-lit Christmas yard display. But three nights of juvenile mischief prompted him to take it all down early.
Kuntz gets jump start on mayor duties
WENATCHEE — Three days after the November general election, Mayor-elect Frank Kuntz went on a weekend trip with his kids — taking along binders of paperwork on state laws, local efforts to consolidate fire services and a new city parks plan. Since then he has met with city employees, spent countless afternoons at meetings, has taken over as the city’s point person on legal dealings with the Town Toyota Center, and became the official mayoral spokesperson more than a month ago.
Putting a face to the arena investors
WENATCHEE — “My name is Jacqueline,” the email started. “I invested in good faith in the municipal bond issued by Wenatchee. Three years ago I went for routine back surgery. The next day in the hospital I had a massive stroke. After three months of rehab I had to learn to walk and eat all over again,” she wrote to The Wenatchee World.
Edgy entities wait for ax to fall — arena suits mean new fear
WENATCHEE — With the threat of lawsuits hovering over their financially-strapped communities, local leaders are bracing for the worst and some are scrambling for a last-minute solution to pay off the Town Toyota Center debt. “Everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop and the first lawsuit to be filed,” said Chelan County Commissioner Doug England.
If the lawsuits start flying, get out your checkbook
WENATCHEE — One thing’s for sure amid the uncertainty of default: it’s going to be expensive. Bondholders who have not been repaid their $42 million investment in the Town Toyota Center could start filing lawsuits at any time. And they will likely cast a wide net over Wenatchee, surrounding communities and everyone who had a hand in the planning and building of the arena.
East Wenatchee mayor working on arena fix
WENATCHEE — East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy believes he’s found a way out of the Town Toyota Center mess. Lacy is working on a plan that would ask nine local jurisdictions to allow a public vote on a .2-percent sales tax increase that would be considered a loan to help pay off the arena’s $42 million debt. The debt went into default on Dec. 1.
City takes step toward car-tab hike
The Wenatchee City Council on Thursday unanimously voted to form a new transportation benefit district, moving a step closer to a car-tab increase.
SEC investigating Town Toyota Center
WENATCHEE — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation relating to the Town Toyota Center financing. The city received a letter on Friday from the agency’s Division of Enforcement stating that it was conducting a confidential, informal investigation and asking the city to voluntarily hand over a number of documents by Dec. 30.
Arena bill won't be heard by Senate
A bill that would have rescued the Town Toyota Center from default will not be heard by the Senate.
Some arena bondholders unexpectly paid back
Some investors in the Town Toyota Center were mysteriously paid back this week, but no local officials know why.
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