County will discuss arena's fate It is under contract with PMI to maintain it By Sarah Riley News-Chronicle A needed $300,000 roof repair project for the nearly 50-year-old Brown County Arena might be put on hold until the county determines the long-term fate of the building. It was once one of the only large venues in town, but the 11,000-seat Resch Center next door has usurped the arena as the area's biggest concert venue. Events are still held at the arena, which is managed by PMI. The county has enough funds to repair the roof in a fund dedicated to arena repair, but the money could also be used for demolition of the arena, Education and Recreation Committee chairman Ron Antonneau said Thursday. Sup. Kevin Kuehn asked the committee what the fate of the building was and was told the county has a five-year contract with PMI and an option to renew for five more years. "I don't know if that building is worth anything right now," Kuehn said. "I don't know that." Bill Dowell, facilities management director, said he has not determined the life expectancy of the building. If the county used $300,000 of the improvements fund, which came from state grants, there would only be about $20,000 left in the fund. The county has been patching the roof annually at a cost of about $10,000. The air-conditioning system in the arena is not ideal either, committee members said. The committee decided to put the project on hold until it can develop a long-term plan for the building. "We'll keep this on hold," Antonneau said.