LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock County commissioners voted to support a revised plan for the Lubbock County Expo Center after 45 minutes of debate, overruling County Judge Curtis Parrish\u2019s opposition.<\/p>\n
The updated proposal keeps the event venue location at North Loop and University but features a new design and reduced price tag. Commissioners approved a resolution allowing the center to spend $375,000 to get a new design scheme from Parkhill.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday I stand before you the most excited that I\u2019ve been, that we\u2019re the closest we\u2019ve been to have a plan, to have a project that is viable. A project that will work,\u201d Randy Jordan, board chairman of the Lubbock County Expo Center, said.<\/p>\n
More than $7 million in county funding has been allocated to infrastructure at the site and a previous site plan that private fundraising could not support. Parrish questioned the project\u2019s financial management and transparency.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I believe in the project, my problem is I don\u2019t believe that you have the best interest of the county in mind,\u201d Parrish said. \u201cWe still don\u2019t have a good record or a good accounting of where all that money has gone to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jordan apologized for past issues but defended moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2019all throw all the rocks you want to great, but we have spent hours trying to come up with something that will be affordable and do that, to unwind it now, to say we can\u2019t move forward would be ridiculous. Would be absolutely mind-boggling,\u201d Jordan said.<\/p>\n
The updated plan reduces the price tag from $97 million to $67 million. Jordan said the funding would include $10 million from hotel occupancy tax already collected, $32 million in bonds supported by hotel occupancy tax, and $25 million in private fundraising.<\/p>\n
Parrish criticized the new expenditure for design work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese aren\u2019t plans,\u201d Parrish said. \u201cThese are going to be pretty pictures is what you\u2019re buying for $375,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Civil District Attorney\u2019s Office said it plans to work with the Lubbock County Expo Center to improve financial transparency.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019ll be honest with you, no one has done a good job of that. It is unfamiliar to us, we don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing, but we\u2019re about to figure it out so that we can have a better financial relationship between LCEC and the county,\u201d Ashley Cox said.<\/p>\n
The Local Government Corporation appointed by the court to oversee the project recommended supporting the resolution. Secretary Bill McCay said the resolution provides oversight for the court and community to monitor how the expo center uses its funding.<\/p>\n
Parrish attempted to amend the resolution to add language protecting the county, but failed. The original resolution passed, allowing Parkhill to proceed with creating a new plan for the reduced budget.<\/p>\n
Commissioners will review the new design once completed.<\/p>\n
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