Edmond City Council votes to transfer money for conference center

The need to purchase 7.13 acres of land at Covell Road and Interstate 35 did not allow time for the request to go through the Capital Projects and Financing Task Force, the board that approves disbursement of the 2000 sales tax money designated for capital improvements.

City council members made the purchase with money from the real property fund with the intention of putting capital projects money back into the real property fund.

Task Force members Steve Auchter and Matt Burns voted against the transfer of money. They said they are against spending city tax money on what they call a private enterprise.

The task force's vote to transfer the money failed because not all members were present and five yes votes were needed for approval. The task force only makes recommendations; final decisions are made by the city council.

Assistant City Manager Steve Commons said Auchter and Burns have “philosophical concerns” about using city money to help build a conference center.

“They have historically not been in favor of the project,” Commons said. “The majority is in favor of it.”

Capital task force members earlier recommended budgeting $11 million for the project, which city officials think will bring economic development opportunities and additional sales tax money to Edmond.