MetroCentre Authority Board Chairman Resigns

Rockford, IL - As the $20 million MetroCentre renovation project moves forward, one of its leaders quits. Gary Marzorati has been on the MetroCentre Authority Board for eight years, and Chairman for five of those. Hes been the driving force behind the renovation project. He read his letter of resignation at Wednesdays board meeting. He submitted that letter two weeks ago to Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey and MetroCentre General Manager Corey Pearson. He told board members he resigned to fend off the rumor mill. He says its a conflict of interest for him to have any say in choosing a construction manager for the renovation project. Thats because one of the seven bidders, Ragnar Benson of Park Ridge, IL, is a division of his own company`s owner William Charles. "As soon as they told me they were going to do that I turned in my letter of resignation," says Marzorati. "Whether they were picked or not picked, and it turned out they were not picked as one of the three finalists, it would`ve looked bad." After Marzorati walked out, the board appointed the Chairman of the Renovation Committee, Rita Epperson, as the interim board chair. "The board will miss him," Epperson says of Marzorati. "Ever since I`ve been on the board, Gary`s been on the board. He`s a very strong supporter." The boards goal is to follow through on Marzoratis countless hours of planning for the renovation project. At Wednesdays meeting they chose Sjostrom Construction to be the construction manager. The board approved giving the company 4.5 percent above the actual construction costs as a fee. The construction costs are estimated to be $15 million. "We chose them because we felt that they`re going to be able to do the job for the price that we want and the time frame that we want," says Epperson. The deadline for the construction to be finished is June of 2008. The improvements call for a new entrance, a permanent restaurant that will be open year-round, club seats, luxury suites, and a V.I.P. club.