Guilty plea reached in arena case; restitution nears $500k

Posted on August 25, 2020
U.S. Cellular Coliseum
Central Illinois Arena Management operated the coliseum in Bloomington from 2006 to 2016. (WJBC File Photo)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The city of Bloomington is set to receive around $430,000, out of $450,000, after a guilty plea from John Butler, who was the head of a company that once operated the city-government-owned indoor sports arena in downtown Bloomington.

A statement from City Manager Tim Gleason calls the restitution”significant” and “ensures the taxpayers will receive a substantial financial recovery,” according to our news partner HOI ABC.

Since the tenure of arena management by John Butler ended, Bloomington has put into place new oversight practices and procedures — including hiring a contract administrator to oversee arena management and conducting monthly reviews of arena finances.

Representatives from the city finance department also participate in these monthly meetings, according to the release.

With limited use during the COVID-19 pandemic, the arena has been repurposed to serve the community in other ways, including the City’s newly initiated customer service hub located at the Arena ticket window.

The arena will also be a central voting location for residents of McLean County and Bloomington in the upcoming General Election.

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