Control of The Corbin Center going back to City of Corbin

The City of Corbin will be taking back control of The Corbin Center effective June 1.

The Corbin Board of Education and the Corbin City Commission have each approved an agreement that the school system would operate the multi-purpose facility through May 31 and be permitted to use the facility for its events free of charge.

On June 1, control of the facility will return to the city.

“That is when they go out for the school year,” said Corbin City Manager Marlon Sams when asked about the timing of the change over.

Sams said the city is seeking to make the facility more of a convention and conference facility with the possible addition of a hotel/motel on city-owned property next door.

“It is right off the interstate and you have The Arena just up the hill,” Sams said of some of the selling points for the idea.

Sams said he had approached the school system concerning paying rent, noting that while the school system is responsible for maintenance and upkeep inside, the city is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the exterior, including the HVAC system.

However, under the terms of the contract, which was first agreed upon in 2011, the school system keeps any revenue from events held at the facility.

In an effort to help the city recoup some of the maintenance costs, city officials proposed the $1,200 rent.

“We have had a good partnership with the school system,” he Sams said.