WM A&P putting finishing touches on Civic Center upgrades

WM A&P putting finishing touches on Civic Center upgrades

City hopes renovations will turn facility into regional draw

news@theeveningtimes.com

“Inch-by-inch, it’s a cinch” has been the mindset for the West Memphis Advertising and Promotions Commission.

Redecorating and minor renovation plans to update the Eugene Woods Civic Center have continued to move forward, and more plans were discussed at the September A& P meeting.

Commissioners authorized finishing touches, including wireless capabilities in one recently upgraded room as well as technology updates for another meeting room.

The commission met in an east-side room that recently received new paint, window shades, conference call speakers in the ceiling, a retractable screen and a power point projector.

Tourism Director Jim Jackson utilized power point for the whole meeting and commissioners were generally

impressed. Civic Center manager Kimberly Hamilton

brought commissioners up to date, noting that the technology upgrades were “99 percent complete.”

The big meeting room represented the one percent still remaining. All the gadgets are in place, but programing them to work together from a control area in a back corner hasn’t happened. When the room was used last week for school board election results, the screen could not be lowered nor the ceiling mounted projector used.

Election Commissioner Frank Barton set up his portable PC, projector and printer and shone the results on the wall as usual.

“I told them ahead of time it wasn’t ready yet,” said Hamilton.

As for the conference and seminar room Jackson said they got what they paid for but now realized having a wireless mouse and control pad would increase the user friendliness of the facility.

“This is the first time we’ve used this and there are just a few hiccups to work out,” said Jackson.

“I’m having to sit here with a mouse. I thought we were getting a tablet for this, but I found out it was not part of the scope of work. ”

Commissioners thought about implementing a marketing plan to attract prospects to the facility for meetings and conventions.

“There is really nothing around that will compete with this,” said Hamilton.

But Commissioners balked at moving forward on marketing the meeting space until all the required redecorating and remodeling completes. They asked for the wireless upgrades in the meeting room and for identical equipment for the other conference room too.

“I’ve been approached by marketing consultants about the Civic Center,” said Jackson.

“We are going to try to market it,” said Commissioner Troy Keeping. “We need to revisit some improvements. So I would hold off getting someone to market something that is not ready to be marketed.”

“We are trying to put together a menu of improvements that improve the overall aesthetics, the kitchen, the bathrooms,” said Keeping.

So far commissioners have been ordering changes a la carte, including paint, banquet tables and chairs, along with the technology upgrades. Hamilton was told to shop for carpet in August. A new ice maker arrived and other kitchen appliances ordered.

City Engineer Phillip Sorrell instead suggested having an architect inspect the building and identify the complete scope of work.

According to Sorrell, setting the focus would help set a budget and sequential order to the planned work could be the horse that leads the way through the project.

“That is your best avenue,” said Sorrell. “How much are we talking about? A hundred thousand dollars A million? I don’t know.

You will be money ahead getting a local architect do the assessment rather than having me work outside my field of expertise. They could give you a cost estimate in short order.”

“Things just seem disjointed right now,” said Councilwoman Ramona Taylor. “We are trying to bring things back together and develop a request for funding. I’ve learned we may have a plan on file.”

By John Rech