Civic Center Dilemma | Video

Jessica Roose | 3/5/2013

Sometime soon, city leaders will have to decide whether to expand the Bismarck Civic Center or build a new one. Plenty of interested people discussed that at a public input meeting on Tuesday evening.

They listened to two proposals. One would expand part of the Civic Center for about $25 million. Another would build a new center on the north side of town at a cost of $150 to $200 million.

"People are interested in something new and that`s always an attractive option," said city commissioner Josh Askvig. "But I also think people understand we have a good thing. And so, if we can make some incremental improvements that allow us to build upon it that`s there. I think that`s the struggle the commission is going to be faced with, is which direction do we go. How do we finance it, and of course that boils down to what do the people of Bismarck want."

In November, voters rejected spending $90 million to expand the Civic Center.

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