The Tennessee Tribune: Sledge Implicates Mayor’s Office in Fort Negley Deal

District 17 Councilman Colby Sledge told the Metro Board of Ethical Conduct last week that he met with the Cloud Hill Partners in the Mayor’s office in late 2015, more than a year before the city put Fort Negley out to bid.

“In late 2015 I was called into a meeting with the mayor’s administration and various department heads regarding a proposal from members of what became the Cloud Hill team. The Cloud Hill team discussed their proposal how the Greer Stadium property could be re-developed,” Sledge testified.

Tommy Lynch, former head of parks, attended that meeting that was led by Rich Riebeling, Chief Operating Officer (COO). Mayor Barry put in a brief appearance.

Sledge testified that Riebeling was the liaison between Metro and developers regarding Fort Negley.

Sledge also told the ethics commission that he met with the Cloud Hill development team a second time prior to the city’s release of the Request for Quotes (RFQ) in February 2017.

The Tennessean reported that, according to T Bone Burnett, Sledge was instrumental in giving him advice on the Greer redevelopment process before the city formally opened bidding.