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Middletown approves Event Center HVAC replacement as staff report steady bookings and senior programming growth
Summary
City council on Sept. 16 approved a contract to replace the HVAC system at the Event Center of Middletown as staff reported rising bookings, expanded senior programming and plans to grow community events in 2026.
The Middletown City Council on Sept. 16 approved an ordinance authorizing a contract to replace the Event Center of Middletown's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and heard a detailed staff update on the venue's bookings, senior programs and operational improvements. The ordinance was presented as a second reading and carried by voice vote. City Manager Ashley Combs said the agreement with TrainUS Inc. will authorize the replacement work at the center.
The Event Center update outlined why the replacement and other investments matter to the city. Angie Smith, who presented the event-center report, said the facility hosted 81 events in 2025 so far, with estimated attendance for secured future events totaling about 6,300 and client satisfaction “right around 98%.” Smith said rentals range from private celebrations to job fairs and that the center brings visitors into Middletown for economic development and vibrancy.
Smith described a range of recent improvements: inventory refreshes for tables and linens, new blinds for the ballroom and other rooms, audiovisual reliability fixes, an 86-inch rolling TV, a bar and serving checklist, and a pilot preferred-caterer program. She said the event center has hired three part-time event hosts and relies on cross-trained city staff for weekend coverage.
On senior services, Smith said the center has 333 senior members, offers 29 weekly programs and works with community instructors and health partners; she said the staff plans pilot technology classes for seniors in partnership with CBI and Premier Health screenings on a quarterly basis. Smith said the staff is tracking attendance on paper and is seeking to move tracking into technology systems as EventPro and other systems return online.
City Manager Ashley Combs and Smith also discussed a fiscal snapshot and 2026 planning. Smith said the staff expects a 10%–20% increase in rental utilization in 2026 and forecasted a 10% increase in community event sponsorships. She noted risks including ongoing IT and cyber disruptions, staffing gaps and vendor reliability; she identified mitigations such as temporary email workarounds, a makeshift event database and cross training.
The council asked questions about the HVAC contract and other facility improvements during the legislation portion of the meeting. The ordinance to contract for the HVAC replacement was presented as ordinance O2025-52 (second reading) and passed on the council floor.
Looking ahead, the council and staff highlighted public workshops tied to the city’s development-code update and several upcoming community events planned at the Event Center and elsewhere in the city.
