Committee Shines Light On Arena Bills

Outstanding utility bills at Louisiana’s Rapides Parish Coliseum continue to cause controversy, prompting some local officials to take a closer look at the parish-owned facility and its management by forming a Coliseum Committee.

The main topic of its May 4 inaugural meeting was the utility bills, which total approximately $90,000. Parish officials and those of the Coliseum Authority, which manages the facility, differ on the amount in arrears. The Authority says the outstanding cost is $59,203 and puts the delinquent time span at five months.

Murphy Rachal, Coliseum Authority chairman, said the Coliseum’s figures do not worry him because the building usually gets behind.

Joe Bishop, who chairs the police jury committee, says the Coliseum needs to be marketed better and get involved with Ticketmaster.