GREENSBORO, N.C. -
Have you heard about the new amphitheater being constructed with your tax dollars near the Greensboro Coliseum?
No? You're not alone.
Not one Greensboro City Council member -- not even the mayor -- knew the coliseum was building the $95,000 amphitheater until this week.
Councilmember Mary Rakestraw said she first learned of the project after a curious citizen stopped at the construction site near the old Canada Dry building along High Point Rd. and asked workers what they were building. The citizen then called Rakestraw to ask why the city was building there.
"I don't remember hearing anything about an amphitheater, because if we are going to build one, my next question is, 'How are we going to pay for it?'" said Rakestraw.
Rakestraw asked other council members at Tuesday's briefing if they knew about it. No one did.
Coliseum officials say Director Matt Brown told city council about the plans for what he called "an outdoor festival area" on January 6, but video of that meeting shows Brown never mentioned those plans.
"We've already had a meeting with the Eastern Music Festival. We are looking at trying to utilize the grass area east of the property to create an event -- help them create activity along High Point Rd.," Brown said Thursday.
Documents provided by the coliseum indicate officials there were in constant contact with the city and that interim City Manager Bob Morgan approved a contract for the amphitheater in June.
Current City Manager Rashad Young has stopped construction for now while he investigates how the project came about.
"We need to get all the facts and figures together. We're not trying to beat up on anyone, but I've asked so many times we need to improve the communication between department heads, city manager and city council," said Rakestraw.
No? You're not alone.
Not one Greensboro City Council member -- not even the mayor -- knew the coliseum was building the $95,000 amphitheater until this week.
Councilmember Mary Rakestraw said she first learned of the project after a curious citizen stopped at the construction site near the old Canada Dry building along High Point Rd. and asked workers what they were building. The citizen then called Rakestraw to ask why the city was building there.
"I don't remember hearing anything about an amphitheater, because if we are going to build one, my next question is, 'How are we going to pay for it?'" said Rakestraw.
Rakestraw asked other council members at Tuesday's briefing if they knew about it. No one did.
Coliseum officials say Director Matt Brown told city council about the plans for what he called "an outdoor festival area" on January 6, but video of that meeting shows Brown never mentioned those plans.
"We've already had a meeting with the Eastern Music Festival. We are looking at trying to utilize the grass area east of the property to create an event -- help them create activity along High Point Rd.," Brown said Thursday.
Documents provided by the coliseum indicate officials there were in constant contact with the city and that interim City Manager Bob Morgan approved a contract for the amphitheater in June.
Current City Manager Rashad Young has stopped construction for now while he investigates how the project came about.
"We need to get all the facts and figures together. We're not trying to beat up on anyone, but I've asked so many times we need to improve the communication between department heads, city manager and city council," said Rakestraw.
