The City of Denison is sending out requests for qualifications on options to operate the Boulders Conference Center.

The conference center’s former lessee was given a notice to vacate on December 28 for non-payment of rent.

Since that time, the bookings have been handled by city hall. An employee of Majestic Hills Golf Course has been running the events. The employee is being paid by the golf course for this work, and in exchange, the city is forgiving the golf course’s rent payment and utilities for the lower level of the conference center for January and February.

At a special Boulders Commission meeting on Monday, City Manager Jessica Garcia presented a draft of the request for qualifications, and the commissioners suggested making the options for operating the conference center open to any number of possibilities.

Language in the request for qualifications mentions options of paid management, leasing, a combination of management and leasing, or any other alternatives. Purchasing the conference center from the city is also an option.

Story Ads 1

In the past, Boulders has been operated by a city employee, has operated under a management contract and then operated under a lease agreement.

The request for qualifications includes legal information. Commissioners wanted to have the most pertinent information at the front of the document with the legal language at the end.

The request for qualifications will be posted on the city’s website and the Iowa League of Cities website. City Manager Jessica Garcia said she would send the request for qualifications to entities that have already reached out with an interest in the conference center. Copies can also be requested by calling city hall.

According to the discussion at the Boulders Commission meeting, the requests for qualifications would go out on January 26. Those interested can submit questions to Garcia by a February 5 deadline. Garcia will respond to the questions by February 7 and the proposals are due at city hall by February 12.

The Boulders Commission scheduled a special meeting on February 13 to review the proposals. At their regular meeting on February 27, the commissioners will hear presentations from those that submitted proposals.

Follow us on Facebook for the latest news and updates