WM A&P greenlights Civic Center revamp

WM A&P greenlights Civic Center revamp

Civic Auditorium, Woods Center set for renovations, improvements

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The Advertising and Promotion Commission issued marching orders to Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jim Jackson during the March meeting.

The group is not resting after the CVB knocked out two top tourism awards in the last month. The Big River Crossing grand opening event took top honors at the Delta Byways and the Governors conference on tourism. Now the A& P has authorized the CVB to move forward with renovations and improvements at both the Civic Auditorium and The Eugene Woods Civic Center.

“We are waiting on the City Attorney to finish contracts for architects to move forward on finishing improvements at the civic center and starting in the auditorium,” said Jackson.

Improvements to enhance computer based presentations including conference call technology and acoustic panels in the three biggest meeting rooms along with new paint and carpet brought the civic center up to customer expectations. Coming improvements include improvements to the air conditioning, kitchen updates, handicap access to the building and the restrooms and redecorating the lobby will complete the re- A&P

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modeling started last summer.

A& P commissioners were walked through the auditorium last month and saw the needed improvements to the roof, ceiling, lobby, restrooms, dressing rooms, cleaning the building on the outside including some landscaping, and handicap access. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990, the designated wheel chair entry has been through a rear door and restroom stalls hard to navigate.

The CVB director summarized the action taken to line up an architect by the A& P to move forward, recapped positive results of recent events.

“The A& P formed a selection committee,” said Jackson. “We can waive competitive bids for professional services including architectural engineering according to the city attorney. That’s what we are doing. We selected Magruder for the architecture work on the auditorium based on his experience and Garey to do the work at the civic center.”

Work in the auditorium will be extensive enough to blackout some events dates to work construction projects.

“We are really wanting to get the contract from the city attorney to get the work started,” said Jackson. “The auditorium will be extensive and require some closure. We will have to work around the contractor.”

Recent work through the A& P commission contributions included new welcome banners on Missouri Street and the Jackson Music Awards talent showcase. The weekend extravaganza was a boon for the local hospitality businesses that collect the A& P taxes.

The event filled hotels and restaurants for the weekend.

“There were 200 contestants artists or bands and also recording artists, that performed for the group,” said Jackson. “They did the prayer breakfast and seminars at the Clarion during the day and had the Auditorium all evening. The music ran into the wee hours two nights in a row.

They were pleased with the facility and will be back.”

By John Rech