Lohbeck said he thinks the city rushed to approve IRG’s plan without proper analysis of costs, Federal Aviation Administration approval or protection of city financial interests five to eight years in the future.
IRG has said it plans to remake the site as a multi-tenant manufacturing, warehouse and office facility that could bring 900 to 1,400 jobs to the city in five years. Builders Development Group, led by Mark Herres, had hoped to turn the site into a center for renewable energy technology, with a huge solar array as its centerpiece.
City Commissioners did not respond to Lohbeck during the meeting, but Nan Whaley, Matt Joseph and Dean Lovelace both said later that they do not see problems with the IRG deal, which was signed in April.
“One of the things we do with all of our economic development deals is do our due diligence,” Whaley said.
Mayor Gary Leitzell voted against the IRG plan in April “on principle,” saying he thinks IRG has the ability to succeed, but he felt the city was unfair in holding Herres to a higher standard than IRG.
Lohbeck questioned whether the IRG deal would be approved by the FAA, which has authority over airport properties.
City Manager Tim Riordan said there are no pending approvals that could block the deal. FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said FAA has had good meetings with the city and will send a decision as soon as this week, ruling on their ability to create an interim agreement for nonaeronautical uses on the site.
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