The Amarillo City Council took decisive steps during their regular meeting on Tuesday, forming a temporary board for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) as the fallout from the controversial RANGE project continues to unravel. With the AEDC's previous leadership in disarray due to a series of mass resignations earlier this week, the Council is now working to stabilize the organization while also preparing for a permanent restructure.
Temporary Board Established
Dipak Patel, the only remaining member of the AEDC board after the recent resignations, will continue in his role, alongside a new temporary team composed of businessman Alex Fairly, former Amarillo City Councilman Howard Smith, and current council members Josh Craft and Don Tipps.
The decision comes as the city grapples with the aftermath of the RANGE project controversy, which has raised questions about the transparency and management of the AEDC. The board, in its current state, has struggled to maintain operations after the resignation of key members earlier this week, including Andrew Hall, whose departure left the AEDC without a quorum for decision-making.
Key Figures in Local Politics
Alex Fairly, a prominent local businessman, has become an increasingly influential figure in Amarillo politics. Fairly gained significant attention in 2022 when he successfully sued the City of Amarillo to stop an illegal debt issuance. The lawsuit not only halted the proposed issuance but also brought Fairly into the political spotlight, especially as he declined calls to run for mayor in 2023. Instead, Fairly played a pivotal role in backing candidates who won seats on the Amarillo City Council in the May 2023 election. His daughter, Caroline Fairly, recently added to the family’s political legacy by winning a seat in the Texas State House of Representatives.
Howard Smith, who served on the Amarillo City Council from 2017 to 2023, will also join the temporary AEDC board. Smith, who represented Place 4, chose not to seek reelection in 2023 but remains one of the longest-serving members of the council group first elected in 2017. His experience and familiarity with city governance are seen as valuable assets during this transitional period for the AEDC.
Councilmembers Josh Craft and Don Tipps, who are already involved in the decision-making processes of the city, will also participate in the temporary board. Their roles on the Council, combined with their familiarity with local economic development issues, are expected to help guide the AEDC through this turbulent time.
Path Forward for AEDC
The temporary board will serve until Amarillo City Council finalizes updates to the AEDC’s Articles of Incorporation. The city’s leadership is committed to reorganizing the AEDC to ensure its long-term stability and effectiveness in fostering economic development in the region.
Mayor Cole Stanley addressed the situation during Tuesday’s meeting, outlining the next steps in the process to permanently fill the AEDC’s board. He instructed the City Secretary to reopen the applicant pool for a 30-day period, encouraging those who had previously expressed interest to confirm whether they were still willing to serve. Following this reopening, Council members will conduct interviews with applicants, with the goal of selecting new board members by January 2025.
"What we would have is we need to give direction to Miss City Secretary, to open back up the applicant pool for another 30 days, and to reach out to all applicants, giving them a short update on what took place here today," Mayor Stanley said. "The change in the temporary board and if they’re willing to serve still or not. And then we would ask you to bring those back to us as soon as you have them, so that we’d have as much time to reach out and do our own personal interviews with the intention of bringing something back in January."
Action Deferred on Key Items
During the meeting, the Council also took no action on two significant items related to the AEDC. Item 11.H involved a resolution to approve amendments to the AEDC’s Articles of Incorporation. Councilmembers cited a lack of adequate time to review the proposed changes and the absence of a functioning board as reasons for deferring action on the resolution.
Additionally, the Council did not move forward with Item 11.I, which sought to relieve Andrew Hall of his duties as director of the AEDC. The resignation of Hall, along with three other board members, on Monday rendered this decision moot, as the AEDC board was no longer operational.
Looking Ahead
With the temporary board in place, the Amarillo City Council is now focused on restoring the AEDC’s credibility and ensuring that it operates with full transparency moving forward. While the controversy surrounding the RANGE project has cast a shadow over the AEDC, city leaders are hopeful that the changes in leadership and the upcoming restructuring will help rebuild trust in the organization and its ability to foster economic development in Amarillo.
The City Council’s next steps will include reviewing the open applications for the AEDC board and conducting interviews to select permanent members who will help guide the future direction of the Corporation.
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