Kevin Nelson (Right) sits with his wife, former Mayor Ginger Nelson (Left) during the Center City TIRZ #1 Board Meeting

A company owned by the husband of former Mayor Ginger Nelson has been granted approval to take over an incentive agreement potentially worth more than $800,000 following a split vote by Amarillo City Council.

The incentive, which grants a 90% property tax reimbursement for up to $849,044.99 through 2031, is being transferred from Summit NCI JV 177 LLC to Kevin Nelson’s 724 S. Polk Street Operating. Nelson’s company is currently in the process of acquiring the downtown Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Polk Street from Summit.

Transfer of the incentive required approval by both the Center City TIRZ #1 board and Amarillo City Council. After a tense board meeting last week where Nelson alluded to potential litigation if the transfer failed, the Center City TIRZ #1 board voted to give consent to the transfer, with Amarillo ISD board member Tom Warren II casting a vote against.

When the item was brought to Amarillo City Council, Mayor Cole Stanley voiced concerns over how the request was brought forward.

“My position is not that the city doesn’t contractually owe the rebate, I think it does,” said Stanley. “My position would be, with the attempt of the two parties to do something outside of the full awareness of the taxpayer and the people that I represent [...] I couldn’t with good conscience say that I’m representing to accept this or to endorse this with the way it was handled.”

Councilman David Prescott pushed back, noting that the incentive had been previously assigned from Amarillo Hospitality, LLC, to Summit in 2021. “That sets precedence,” said Prescott.

The council ultimately voted 4 to 1 to pass the item, with Mayor Stanley voting against.

Editor’s note: Tom Warren II is the publisher of The Amarillo Pioneer. Tom Warren II had no input in the writing or publishing of this article.