Who told Todd?

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune was shocked to learn that his government rejected a $20 million offer from the city of Cincinnati for the city to take over the $600 million Banks project.

"We never rejected an offer," Portune said Friday of the government on which he serves as one of three elected commissioners.

That's because, he said, the offer was never brought to him, discussed with him or the public.

"The county may only act decisively via action of the Board. We never met about this issue, much less took any action on it," Portune noted.

"How was it that our commission President could lawfully reject a proposal that was not his decision, alone, to make? "

The offer came from Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory to Commission President Phil Heimlich who rejected it.

Portune is upset at what he views as too much Hamilton County government business being done outside the view of the public.

The rejected Banks' proposal comes on the heels of Portune feeling slighted two weeks ago when the Hamilton County administration issued a Request for Proposals -- a process that allows developers to express their interest in a project -- was issued for The Banks.

That was done, Portune said, even though he requested changes be made to it -- specifically, making the "Small Business Development" plan in the proposal more meaningful to attract more minority developers to the project.

By not doing that, Portune believes Hamilton County needlessly alienated Cincinnati City Council members who also were upset the RFQ was issued without their input on what they believe is a project which the county and city are supposed to partner.

The city's offer to pay Hamilton County $20 million for The Banks property came after Hamilton County unilaterally issued the RFQ -- something that perhaos isn't coincidental, Portune suggested.

"The Council is telling both, I think, the county and the Mayor, that enough of the secret meetings," Portune noted.