It is not the parking or the use of a renovated Bowie City Auditorium that concerns members of the city council, it is the $5 million price tag and the ongoing costs.

Another full house greeted the Bowie City Council when it met Tuesday night to hear an update on the Friends of the Auditorium fundraising efforts.

While the Friends have raised more than $50,000 this past year, the news about grant availability was not good. Main Street Manager Shannon Skiles told the council while they have applied to many entities for grants, none have committed. Retired Bowie City Manager James Cantwell was just one of several people who addressed the city council about the auditorium project at its Tuesday meeting. Along with an update on fundraising, the hotel/motel tax advisory committee has made a recommendation to eliminate the set percentage allocations to the community center, auditorium restoration and promotions. An ordinance will be prepared and returned to the council for action. Read the full story in the weekend News.