Bloomington mayor wants to end consulting contract

Posted on June 24, 2015

Bloomington mayor Tari Renner said he will recommend the city council end its contract with the National Development Council. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Tari Renner)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s mayor isn’t happy with the role that a consulting firm played – or didn’t play – in the city’s negotiations for a downtown redevelopment plan.

Mayor Tari Renner told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the National Development Council was to review a proposal from Jeff Giebelhausen to renovate two blocks of downtown.

PODCAST: Listen to Renner’s interview with Scott and Colleen on WJBC.

“I didn’t see that they did anything helpful except maybe sabotage everything,” Renner declared.

The city council backed off that plan earlier this month saying it needed more information from the developer.

Renner suggested the city was wasting the $5,000 per month it pays the NDC.

“To say I’ve been underwhelmed with their performance is an understatement,” Renner said.

The city is on a month-to-month contract with the New York-based firm after its last agreement ended in April.

Renner suggested the city would be better served paying the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council to provide some consulting help.

“We have people who understand our local area and have skin in the game,” Renner said.

WJBC contacted NDC seeking comment.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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