GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Redevelopment Authority member and Green Bay Alderman Joe Moore says although he supports moving forward with the proposed expo center for Brown County, he understands why other city leaders may have reservations.
“I get why our senior staff is doing this. They just want to make sure that we’re aware of what we’re voting on. But it’s up to every one of us to make that decision for ourselves and be as best educated as we can be,” said Moore.
Green Bay Economic Development Director, Kevin Vonck, recently told the Press Gazette that he thinks the proposal for new expo center would be “a horrible deal” for the city…saying utilizing the room-tax money for the new center would take away funds for future improvements on the KI Convention Center.
WTAQ reached out to Vonck but he did not immediately respond.
Moore says the money in the hotel room tax goes into a pool that’s managed by the county.
“If the city of Green Bay has all of these projects that we would like to use that money for, then we should have probably come forward with those project first with our own proposals.”
The alderman is in favor of giving the public options on where to hold events.
“When you look at the quality finishes of the KI, the fact that it’s attached to a hotels in the downtown…I think when people come to the city of Green Bay and they want to bring their convention there, it’s actually important to give them options.”
The RDA will be voting on the amended and restated cooperation agreement regarding room tax revenue Friday at 7:30 a.m.
