KFDA
By Tamlyn Cochran and Kevin Welch
Published: Nov. 10, 2022 at 11:15 AM GMT-7

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The city of Amarillo filed a notice today it wants a speedy hearing on its appeal of the Alex Fairly lawsuit concerning the proposed Civic Center improvements.

Businessman Alex Fairly opposed the city’s plan and a state district judge ruled in his favor.

Mayor Ginger Nelson said the appeal is not just because a judge ruled against the city but to clarify state law on issuing debt. Many cities use the same process to issue debt.

She said the city is in a state of confusion and needs some clarity on how to continue to operate because debt is needed for everything from landfill expansion to drainage improvements.

She also said Fairly’s lawsuit delayed the project so long that the amount of money the city approved for the project is no longer enough so the city can’t move forward even if a judge reverses the earlier ruling against the city.

The city still has a motion pending for the district judge to modify his ruling against the city.