City Council may talk about water parks again Tuesday

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October 22, 2012

City Council may talk about water parks again Tuesday

By BRAD KELLAR Herald-Banner Staff The Herald-Banner Mon Oct 22, 2012, 10:09 AM CDT

GREENVILLE — The Greenville City Council could hear more details Tuesday about two water parks wanting to locate in the city.

The Council is scheduled to discuss pending economic development projects during an executive session as part of Tuesday’s regular agenda, which starts at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 2821 Washington Street. A work session is also set for 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Greenville Board of Development President Greg Sims is expected to present information on more than two dozen pending projects, all of which are identified under code names. The executive session would be conducted under Section 551.087 (1) of the Texas Local Government Code which allows for, “Discussion or deliberation regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations.”

The executive session could also be held under Section 551.072, which allows for “Discussion or deliberation concerning the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the governmental body.”

Of the projects to be discussed, Project Wave has been identified as the offer from Hawaiian Falls and Project Splash has been identified as the proposal from Splash Kingdom.

Two weeks ago, the Council chose to pursue obtaining a Splash Kingdom water park for the city, instead of a proposed Hawaiian Falls Adventure Park. Mayor Steve Reid said while the offers from both parks were welcome, the Council chose the to follow-up on the proposal from the Canton-based Splash Kingdom, as the company would contribute more toward the establishment of the park.

The Council voted unanimously to instruct Sims to pursue a memorandum of understanding agreement with Splash Kingdom.

Should the Council decide to take any action in connection with any of the projects to be discussed in executive session, it would return to open session in order to vote on the matter.