Arena pact awaits city approval

The Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association is prepared to take control of managing the Brainerd Area Civic Center and the Gold Medal Arena.

All it needs is one last OK from the Brainerd City Council.

The BAHA Board met Wednesday to discuss the city's contract offer and made a few minor changes to the wording, BAHA President Mike Blanch said Thursday night.

"We don't perceive it as being a large obstacle," Blanch said of the changes offered by BAHA.

Whether the city and BAHA will enter into a contract could be decided at Tuesday's Brainerd City Council meeting. The contract with BAHA would be for 5 years and give the nonprofit control over all operations, from usage scheduling to hiring employees.

State law allows the city to enter into a contract to lease the facilities to a nonprofit organization. The city would retain ownership of the land and the buildings.

Blanch said the transfer of ownership of the Gold Medal Arena from BAHA to the city also could be presented Tuesday.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.