BEAUMONT, Texas — In a closed-door session held Tuesday, Jefferson County leaders brought up concerns and requested reports about delays in closing the sale of Ford Park.
Jefferson County Judge Branick told 12news that officials requested that the purchaser give the county a report by July 12, so that they could review at the closed session.
Upon reviewing the report, officials found it held no new information other than to say that the purchasers were moving as fast as they could, Branick said.
Branick instructed the county attorney to communicate with the purchaser about getting a firm closing date.
In June, Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said he and other county leaders were getting "rather impatient" with the timeline to sell Ford Park.
“They have had their various partners within the group going back and forth with the financiers over the past couple of months,” Branick said in an earlier interview with 12News. “While, I’m not part of those conversations, that's the gist of what I’ve been told.”
County Auditor Patrick Swain told 12News that the check has yet to arrive, and they are still on track to discuss the matter in the closed session Tuesday. July 13.
The county approved the sale to Renaissance Development Group last November. Several tentative completion dates were set, but each date came and went without action.
Back in March, Kevin Johnson, the president and CEO of Renaissance Development Group said the closing was expected soon, and construction would start immediately.
In February, Jefferson County authorized the county to sign off on a contract to sell Ford Park.
Jefferson County Commissioners voted unanimously in November 2020 to sell Ford Park Entertainment Complex, paving the way for horse racing and hundreds of potential new jobs in the county.