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Commissioners back schematic design work for Expo Center after heated debate; resolution passes 4'1
Summary
After hours of discussion about prior spending, funding sources and safeguards, the court approved a resolution allowing Park Hill Architects to prepare schematic design work for an Expo Center project (LCEC to pay $375,000); two proposed amendments requiring full private funding or explicit county protections failed.
The court debated and then approved a resolution Jan. 27 allowing Park Hill Architects to produce a schematic design for an alternative Expo Center plan on approximately 80 acres along North University Avenue, with the Lubbock County Expo Center (LCEC) corporation committing to pay $375,000 for the schematic package.
Matthew Jordan, representing LCEC, described the plan as a downsized, more affordable alternative to previous proposals and said the all-in budget for the first phase would be about $67 million. "We believe this resolution moves us 1 step closer to having that done," Jordan said, urging the court to allow Park Hill to prepare preliminary designs. LCEC officials and LGC members said about $25 million in cash and pledges had been secured toward their proposed private share, and that the county portion would be limited to hot-venue tax proceeds and a proposed bonding plan. Bill McKay, LGC secretary, told the court LCEC would pay the $375,000 from its fundraising and that the schematic work would not obligate the county to additional expenditures.
County officials and the auditor pressed for transparency. County Judge Parrish and the auditor reiterated the court's concern over prior expenditures (the court referenced roughly $7.7 million already spent from venue-tax proceeds) and sought guarantees that the county would not be asked to commit funds beyond statutory allowances without full review. Two amendments offered by the judge to require LCEC to have full construction funding before county approval and to bar the county from incurring any costs associated with the alternative design failed for lack of seconds. The DA's office said it had been working with LCEC and LGC to shore up financial documentation and that the schematic authorization was limited in scope: "All that this does is gives them an opportunity to create that design... There'll be no further obligations by the county," the DA's representative said.
After debate and failed amendments, a motion to approve the resolution was put to a vote and passed 4'1. The court directed LCEC and Park Hill to return in a few months with the schematic design and additional financial documentation for further review and potential final approval.
