Banks Banks Banks Banks

Reporter Kimball Perry filed this from the Hamilton County Commission meeting

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, upset that he -- and the public --- are, he believes, being left out of discussions between commissioners and Cincinnati officials involving The Banks, tried today to coax some information about the project from Commissioner Phil Heimlich.

Heimlich met Tuesday night with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and Council Member Chris Bortz, hoping to get city officials to agree with Hamilton County on financing, developer selection and other issues critical to the $600 million commercial, residental and retail neighborhood planned for Cincinnati's riverbanks.

Portune, during his opportunity to discuss topics at today's commission meeting, pointedly asked Heimlich what came from Heimlich's Tuesday night meeting.

"It was very positive. I think there was some real progress made in a number of areas," Heimlich answered.

"I don't know what that means," Portune countered, seeking more specifics.

Heimlich declined, saying the mayor still has some information to provide with Council members and he didn't want that to disrupt what he hoped would be an agreement between the two governments.

Council is slated to considered at its meeting this afternoon if it will agree to a proposed plan between the two governments that would give city officials an equal say in selecting a developer for The Banks.

Members of each government announced last week that such an agreement had been reached, but when the council meeting took place, the hoped-for agreement fell through.