What to do with the Hemmens still on minds of leaders

What a difference a year makes.

In May 2008, Elgin city leaders signed off on a $291,000 study to look at the future of the Hemmens Cultural Center and whether it could be expanded to serve the city for the next 25 years.

Officials from Economics Research Associates are due to present their findings to the city council on June 24, said Chris Brewer, ERA project manager.

"Obviously, the city council is going to have to react to this information," Brewer said. "It's a tough decision. It's an older building. It has a number of capital issues that will come up in the future."

Whatever the recommendation is, I don't think it's going out on a limb to say the city won't be spending money anytime soon.

A study three years ago concluded any work would cost at least eight figures - which is millions the city doesn't have right now.

Revenues are down across the board for the city, which, in an effort to save $100,000 decided to pull the plug on the Rib Fest event in May, slashed the Fourth of July fireworks display and scaled back FoxFireFest in August.

This is on top of other cuts, including eliminating some 54 city jobs via attrition, early retirement, layoffs and reassignments.

In fairness, Elgin leaders last spring didn't know the stock market would crash, the credit crunch would worsen, the economy could continue to contract and Des Plaines would gain permission to build a casino.

The city did a study in 2006 that came up with three options for the Hemmens.

They were: erect a new facility for $125 million; make $20 million to $30 million in renovations to improve sound and slightly increase seating; or let the facility serve out its life span while the quality of performances and ticket sales drop.

Brewer said the 1,200-seat Hemmens is too large to serve strictly as a community theater, but too small to serve as a regional performance center, such as the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

The city recently hired a firm to better market upcoming shows at the Hemmens.

Brewer said ERA is still refining cost estimates for expanding the building.

He also noted experts in theater planning, acoustics and engineering also assisted with the study.

"It's served the city very well for a very long time," Brewer said.

Showing their colors: The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and other local groups will dedicate a special American flag and new flagpole at 10 a.m. May 16 at the recreation center at the Edgewater complex at Edgewater and Del Webb Drive.

Jerry Seigler, a Korean War veteran and member of the Edgewater Veterans Committee, said a member of the Illinois senate donated the American Flag, which flew over the Capitol Building in Springfield.

A POW/MIA flag also will be raised at the pole, the cost of which was split between Edgewater residents and the nearby Elgin State Bank.