Independence skips bid process in choosing arena builder

By DAVID MARTIN

Robert Heacock, third from left, and Mayor Don Reimal, fourth from left, break ground.

The city of Independence broke ground earlier this month on a 5,800-seat events center. J.E. Dunn Construction, the metro’s largest contractor, is building the $55-million facility on a no-bid contract.

In the original plan, Global Entertainment Corp. of Phoenix was going to build and operate the arena, which aspires to host a Central Hockey League team. Global’s declining financial position — its stock trades at about a quarter of the price it did two years ago — led the city to take a direct role in the design and construction phase. (Global Entertainment will still manage the building.)

Though the city assumed contractual control, it didn’t follow its regular procurement procedures. The city council approved the Dunn contract without a formally requesting bids.