Riverfront development talks between Cincinnati and Hamilton County went into a tailspin Thursday, calling into question again whether the Bengals' $400.3 million stadium complex will be built.
Cincinnati City Manager John Shirey gave city council members what appeared to be a city-county deal Thursday morning.
But county leaders insist they never agreed to the document Mr. Shirey gave council.
Mr. Shirey and County Commission President Tom Neyer Jr. have had a series of private talks to try to forge a deal.
Mr. Shirey said the proposal he gave council Thursday ''is what Tom Neyer and I agreed to. If Tom Neyer is not the one I should be talking to, they need to tell me that.''
County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus responded: ''If that's what (Mr. Shirey) is saying, then it's obvious negotiations between the city and county have broken down.''
But Mr. Neyer was more optimistic.
''Mr. Shirey and I have had many hours of productive discussions,'' Mr. Neyer said, ''and I certainly do represent the county in this regard.''
He said the county will continue to negotiate.
The city-county negotiations are important because the city controls 12.5 acres of riverfront land the county needs to build the Bengals stadium.
Mr. Shirey has said the city won't transfer the land until there's a city-county riverfront deal.
The city wants the county to help pay for the city's $120.5 million overhaul of Fort Washington Way, the east-west connector, in addition to funding some other riverfront infrastructure.
Bengals President Mike Brown has said if the city and county don't reach agreement by Jan. 31, he'll kill the stadium deal.
Shirey: Bengals holding up deal
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