The David S. Palmer Arena needs a new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system. And this week, Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr., said the city will help. But first, the mayor said the city plans to wait to see how much the Vermilion County Board will chip-in. The mayor said the city provides approximately 75-80 percent of the funding for the Arena’s operating expenses.
But when Arena General Manager Terry Gaffney, and Arena board member Dean Shore addressed the county board’s finance committee last night (Wednesday) they left empty-handed. County Board Chairman Larry Baughn noted the Arena sits in the heart of Danville, adding the city’s request for the county to give more troubles him. He noted the Danville mayor has control of the majority of the appointments to the Palmer Arena Board – nine of them – while the county only has three appointments to the board.
Gaffney says the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation has pledged to cover 50-percent of the cost of the improvements to the HVAC system at the Arena – or $ 750-thousand dollars. However, a match for the other $750-thousand dollars is needed from the city or county.
Gaffney and Shore are still hopeful that something can be worked out. Currently only two of the eight HVAC units at the Palmer Arena are working and there are several events scheduled there – including the Festival of Trees which begins Saturday, November 11th and runs through November 15th.
