By ERIC SWANSON
DODGE CITY DAILY GLOBE
Posted Mar 05, 2009 @ 12:22 PM

For most of the past 12 years, the special events center was stuck in limbo, due largely to an endless series of squabbles over its
location and possible cost.

But now, Dodge City and Ford County are finally making progress on the long-awaited project.
The latest step forward came Wednesday, when the Dodge City and Ford County commissions approved a general building plan and location for the
events center. The multipurpose arena will be built on about 33 acres adjacent to Ford County's state-owned casino, located on the western outskirts of
town.

The commissions also approved a $1.6 million contract with the Denver-based architectural firm Sink Combs Dethlefs for the events center.
Additionally, the commissions authorized the city to issue about $44 million in bonds for the project.

Those bonds will be backed by proceeds from the "Why Not Dodge" sales tax, not by property tax revenues.
The cost of the events center itself has been capped at $41.5 million, but that does not include the cost of preparing the pad site, putting in a parking
lot and making other improvements.

Dodge City Commissioner Monte Broeckelman wondered if the city and county have a backup plan to ensure the viability of the events center in case
the casino fails.

"It appears to me like it's a natural marriage for events and all those types of things," he said. "What happens if one component of that is not there?
I'm just curious if there's been any talk about that being the case."

Dodge City Mayor Kent Smoll said the events center will include features that will allow it to stand alone if the casino doesn't materialize.
"We want to make sure that if, God forbid, the casino goes down the tubes, that we can still function," he said. "And I think we have a building that is
100 percent functional, with or without the casino."

The casino developer, Butler National Service Corp., has a state contract which requires the company to invest about $85 million in the project. The
company has already begun building the gaming floor, which is expected to open late this year.
The company has said that the second phase of the complex, which will include a hotel and other amenities,will be completed within two years after
the first phase opens.

Smoll said if Butler decides it cannot complete the casino, it will have violated its contract with the state.
"Basically, I think, they have the license in southwest Kansas, and that's still a marketable asset," he said. "If they could not perform on their contract,
the state will go out and try to get somebody that will perform on it."
Issuing bonds.

The proposal to issue about $44 million in bonds for the events center sparked a discussion about how the bonds might fare in a volatile market.
Authorizing the city to issue bonds for the events center does not mean the city is obliged to do so, said Pat Hinojos, senior vice president for public
finance with the securities firm Stifel, Nicolaus and Co. Her firm has been working with the city on putting together a bond package for the events
center.

Hinojos said that the volatile market has prompted investors to put more money into Treasury and municipal bonds, which are considered safer
investments. She added that those factors make this a good time to sell bonds for the event center.

"I would put this process into effect now, because I think we have a window that's a good window right now," Hinojos said. "I think that we have a
market that's attractive for bonds, while it isn't very attractive for other investments right now."
Ford County Commissioner John Swayze, who is a longtime opponent of the events center, voted with the other commissioners to approve a general
building plan and site for the facility. But he said the national economic meltdown had made him uncomfortable with the thought of spending money on
the project.

"I can't vote for the architect or the bond or anything until we see what's going to happen to this economy," he said.
Swayze voted against the contract with Sink Combs Dethlefs and the proposal to issue bonds for the events center.
Reach Eric Swanson at (620) 408-9917 or e-mail him at eric.swanson@dodgeglobe.com.