The average salary for the center is projected to be about $70,000.

“There is going to be some great jobs out there,” Wood said. “There is going to be some variance from some clerical jobs for the government business to some very highly paid jobs.”

Protest on the project came from attorney Sean Rieger for Rieger LLC, which had been addressed before the council meeting.

“Their concerns were water and sewer and we agreed to give them access,” Wood said.

The property is owned by NEDC and will be in a long-term lease to CNI, with the lease amounts securing revenue bonds to pay for construction of the project.

Wood said CNI could choose to buy the property from NEDC for the balance owed on the building at any time and would assume the equity.

Building design on Building 2 is being done by Rees and Associates of Oklahoma City, with civil engineering for the site by Cardinal Engineering in Norman, with civil engineering of the plat and utility design by Clour Engineering.

Ward 6 councilmember David Hopper said he had some concerns about the project if the tribe were to assert sovereignty and decide not to pay voluntary sales and ad valorem taxes.

“I hate to be the only one to cast a pall, because it’s everything we’ve been looking for,” Hopper said. “I’m extremely uncomfortable with an exercise of tribal sovereignty. There is no enforcement authority if they decide not to pay. I will vote for this project, because I think it’s a good project. But I want the community to go into this with their eyes open.”

Wood said CNI is working hard to contribute to the communities where they do business.

“Check out their track record in Ada. I think you’ll see they do what they say they’ll do,” Wood said. “They are subjecting themselves to all our sales tax. Subjecting themselves to all our building codes. … CNI considers themselves a normal business. … They will waive their sovereign immunity on a case-by-case basis and will do that with NEDC.”

Carol L. Cole

366-3538

ccole@normantranscript.com