MINNESOTA: Aquarium Request

The Duluth City Council is still weighing whether to grant the Great Lakes Aquarium's request for help in making a $238,000 debt service payment due in February.

The aquarium has run into trouble, partly because of attendance rates that are below projected levels. The aquarium, which is run by a private organization but housed in a public building, has asked the city and the Duluth Economic Development Authority for help in covering cost overruns on the project, in addition to assistance with the debt service payment. The aquarium opened 18 months ago.

Under an operating agreement between the city and the aquarium, Duluth can take over operation of the aquarium if it doesn't make money for two months and does not eventually generate a surplus.

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