Des Moines Vision Iowa Project tied up in court action

The fate of the proposed multi-million dollar arena and events center project in Iowa’s Capital City remains up in the air. One of the top opponents of the “Iowa Events Center” in Des Moines sought a vote on Polk County’s decision to issue 151-million dollars in revenue bonds needed to help fund the project. Frank Bowers fell about 600 signatures shy in a petition drive to force the election, and then sued the county seeking a vote. The case was heard by a judge and a ruling is expected in early October. Bowers has since said he would withdraw the suit if Polk County agreed to a non-binding referendum on the issue. Polk County spokesman Phil Roeder says the county’s rejected that idea as not legal. He says the county is content to have the issue settled in the legal court and not the “court of public opinion.”If the county loses the case, and the right to issue bonds, it also loses the 50-million dollar award made by the state Vision Iowa Board. Roeder says there are also other potential costs.He says further delays would cost half-a-million dollars a month in construction costs. This is not the only Vision Iowa Project to generate controversy. Scott County voters will go to the polls October 23rd to vote on whether the county should sell just over five-million dollars in bonds for the Davenport “River Renaissance” project.