A business that will likely receive a contract for MPEV site demolition donated to a group supporting Mayor Ginger Nelson and other members of the City Council.
Holmes Construction Company has been announced as the likely recipient of a $150,000 deal to demolish the parking lot of Amarillo City Hall that currently sits on the future home of the downtown baseball stadium. Members of the City Council will vote tonight whether to approve the deal to award the contract to Holmes.
In December of 2016, Holmes Construction donated $1,000 to Amarillo Matters, a group that spent nearly $300,000 supporting Mayor Ginger Nelson's campaign, as well as the campaigns of the other members of the City Council. Holmes was one of several businesses that donated money to Amarillo Matters prior to the 2017 election.
This is not the first time that members of the City Council have considered approving a deal for donors to Amarillo Matters. Earlier this month, City Councilmembers voted unanimously to approve tax incentive deals for redevelopment for two entities redeveloping buildings in downtown Amarillo. Both companies that received the tax deals are partially managed by Joe Bob McCartt and Alan Rhodes. Rhodes personally donated to Amarillo Matters and McCartt's company, McCartt and Associates, gave money to Amarillo Matters.
It is unclear whether any other bids were offered for the parking lot demolition, based upon information provided by City of Amarillo staff.
