Judge Clears the Way for Polk County Events Center

Construction of a 17,000-seat arena in downtown Des Moiens is back on track, after a judge threw out a lawsuit aimed at stalling it. The plaintiff wanted to force a referendum on $151 million in bonds to finance the Iowa Events Center, but was unable to collect enough petition signatures to require a public vote. The suit had claimed state law requires too many signatures on petitions to force a vote on financing for a public project. Though work’s begun on an underground tunnel and crwes have started moving utility lines, the suit had stalled some work, which will now go forward. In addition to Polk County’s backing the $151 million in bonds, the project has won $70 million in state funding. Scott County voters DID collect enough signatures to force a vote on approval of just over $5 million in bonds for the Davenport “River Rennaissance” project; that vote will be held October 23rd.