1 min read

5 Former Rapid City Mayors Oppose $180M Civic Center Project

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Five former mayors of Rapid City are opposing a proposed $180 million expansion of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Group spokesman Richard Wahlstrom says every mayor between 1987 and 2011 has concluded that the proposal is not the best thing for the city.

Former mayors Keith Carlyle, Ed McLaughlin, Jim Shaw, Jerry Munson and Alan Hanks have joined a seven-person Fix the Plan committee, which aims to rally voters against what would be the costliest project in Rapid City history. A public election is scheduled March 10.

The project would replace the Civic Center’s 9,400-seat arena with one that could seat up to 19,000 people. Local sales tax money would be used to repay bonds for the project. The arena ultimately could cost $420 million over 30 years with interest.