Would-Be Donor: Rialto Turned Down $350,000 Offer for New Marquee

A lifelong Joliet resident and prominent businessman said he offered to help alleviate some of the Rialto’s financial woes in the wake of controversy surrounding a new marquee design — but theater officials rejected his offer of a $350,000 donation.

Now, the Joliet City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Jan. 28 to discuss the issue.

Jay Bergman, owner of Hinsdale-based Petco Petroleum, said he met with Rialto General Manager Randy Green and Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority Chairman Jim Smith on Tuesday to talk about plans for the marquee and a potential donation.

Related:

• Joliet Mayor Taking Applications for Rialto Board
• Rialto Marquee Donor Asks for His Money Back
• Rialto Manager Accuses Marquee Opponents of Trying to Dupe Sign Company
• Rialto Officials: New Marquee Has Been Nearly a Decade in the Making
• Plans for New Rialto Marquee Draw Criticism

Bergman got involved after another local businessman, Ed Czerkies, pulled his $350,000 donation amid controversy over the design for a new marquee. Rialto officials have said the existing marquee, which is the fourth marquee in the building’s 88-year history, is in disrepair.

Some residents objected the modern design for the new digital marquee, which would play video and pay tribute to Czerkies’ late parents. Earlier this month, the Rialto board put off finalizing a donor agreement with Czerkies until a new design for the marquee — which was already under construction — could be completed. In response, Czerkies asked the theater for his money back.

“This has gotten ... very nasty, more than any subject I’ve seen in Joliet for a long time,” Bergman said. He said he hoped he could help put the issue to rest.

Bergman said he and Rialto officials had discussed replacing the proposed memorial on the marquee with the words “The Jewel of Joliet,” and replacing the donor information on the ends of the sign with the ”Rialto” above the sign board and “Established 1926” below.

“I don’t want my name on the sign — I’m not looking for recognition,” he said. “I just thought I’d give them the money, they could pay for the sign and it would be over.”

But on Thursday, Bergman said he got a call from Green and Smith, who told him they’d met with Rialto Foundation members Tricia Simpson and Steve Randich, and all four officials had agreed to decline the offer.

Bergman said the rejection came as a surprise to him, and he was already making preparations to have a donor agreement drafted by his attorney.

“I fully expected to give them a check on Wednesday,” Bergman said. He said Rialto officials indicated that “there was a small group of people that may want some changes to the marquee and that (they) were going to form a committee to reconsider the project.”

Green did not return a phone call from Patch over the weekend.

On Friday, Bergman sent a letter to Smith and Green, which was forwarded to Mayor Tom Giarrante and the Joliet City Council.

“As a low profile, lifelong resident of Joliet, my desire was not to generate any recognition for myself but to put much of the recent controversy in the community about the marquee behind us,” he wrote. “ ... I did not want any donor information on the sign or any other recognition other than maybe a modest plaque somewhere.

“... We are all friends so I don’t want to say anything negative that someone might take personally,” Bergman wrote. “So, as a group decision, let me say that I think you guys have made a HUGE mistake.”

Bergman goes on to say that the 88-year-old theater needs a new marquee.

“You have been trying to interest different individuals and businesses in the community to fund the project in exchange for donor recognition on the sign since 2007,” he wrote, adding that it took seven years for a donation offer to come in from Czerkies. “That said, I sincerely wish all of you and the Rialto the best of luck,” Bergman wrote.

Special meeting scheduled

Joliet City Councilman Jim McFarland reacted to the rejection on Friday, calling for a special council meeting to hear testimony on the issue.

“I spoke to Mr. Bergman and do not understand why his unrestricted offer was declined. I would like the Rialto board to please explain their reasoning to the public. The community cares deeply about this issue and deserves transparency,” McFarland said.

A special council meeting has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St.

“This is the exactly what everyone has been hoping for to resolve the sign issue, but for some reason the Rialto has chosen to turn down the offer. I want to know why,” he said.

Also on Patch:

• Weigh in on the Future of Evergreen Terrace: Residents Invited to Public Meeting
• Man Who Jumped Off Downtown Parking Deck Left Suicide Message on Voice Recorder: Cops
• Merichka’s Named a ‘Delicious Destination’