Tulsa City Council unanimously approved a joint resolution Wednesday to authorize the sale of the former Rudisill Regional Library to the Power Group Community Development Corp. for $1.4 million.
The pending sale faced scrutiny for a perceived conflict of interest since Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper is a registered agent of the Power Group — the economic arm of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce.
“We have her as the founder of the Black Wall Street Chamber. If that is not (a) conflict of interest, then tell me what (is),” said Heather Nash, one of a few residents to urge council to postpone the vote.
The council shrugged off those concerns, saying Hall-Harper had not participated in the discussion or vote surrounding the sale.
“I just wanted to highlight that she is not sitting here voting right now, and so, no need to impute her character on that matter,” Councilor Laura Bellis said of Hall-Harper. Other councilors argued there is no “personal financial interest to (Hall-Harper) or her immediate family.”
Before the vote, Eric Nelson, attorney for the Tulsa City-County Library Commission, met with a council committee. He said all steps for the sale were vetted.
“We received one bid. The bid was acceptable to the commission, and the commission voted to approve it and sign the contract,” Nelson said.
The Black Wall Street Chamber told The Eagle it plans to use the building, located at 1520 N. Hartford Ave., as an entrepreneurial hub once the new Rudisill location opens in October.
