Winnebago County Board members react to RAVE Board vacancy

ROCKFORD, Illinois (WIFR) – ‘Surprising’ is how some Winnebago County Board members described the news that Hard Rock Casino Rockford President Geno Iafrate has resigned from his position on the RAVE Board of Directors.

The Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority (RAVE) was created to revitalize the city’s entertainment district. They oversee the BMO Center, Coronado Theater and Davis Park.

Winnebago County Board member John Guevara says he was surprised to hear Iafrate was leaving RAVE. “You know, I think the contributions speak for themselves. “There was significant partnership between organizations across the board,” he says.

He says he, too, was disappointed because he thought more could have been done, but this was a volunteer position.

“Sometimes it’s time to move on, and we know that, we understand that,” Guevara says.

“This was more of an attempt to address the concerns that Geno had raised, and my understanding was that it was tax related. But I didn’t speak to Geno directly,” said Winnebago County Board member Paul Arena.

Iafrate’s concern is with Rockford’s entertainment tax, which adds fees to tickets for shows at the BMO Center and Coronado Theater but not the casino.

“They had booked the shows without taking the tax into account and that would be reflected in their profits,” says Arena.

Arena says RAVE is solid and changing one member won’t stop them from achieving their goals.

“There is enough entertainment money in the community for everyone to prosper. We need everyone to be on the same page,” says Arena.

Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli appointed Miles Nielsen to fill the remainder of Iafrate’s term, which ends in July 2027.

Nielsen’s name for appointment was read at the township board meeting Thursday night, but it won’t be read until the late November meeting when board members will vote on his appointment.

WIFR reached out to Iafrate for comment on leaving the RAVE board, but he was unavailable.