RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- While many Richmonders watched the Redskins play on Thanksgiving, city leaders were discussing them - behind the scenes - in an effort to get the necessary seven votes on city council to pass the proposal for building a new facility.
"There has been an unusual amount of behind the scenes back and forth over this - this weekend," Marty Jewell, a Richmond City Councilman, told CBS 6.
City Council needs to pass the measure by seven votes in order to build and fund a new Redskins Training facility - meaning very few of the nine city councilmen can object.
But some are being reluctant.
Jewell confirmed that he, along with Bruce Tyler, Reva M. Trammell, and Chris Hilbert have all expressed some concern over the current proposal.
If three of those council members vote no on the deal, it fails.
The debate is centered around the former Westhampton School Property on Patterson Ave.
In the deal, Bon Secours will contribute $6 million dollars to help build and maintain a new training facility.
In exchange, they would be able to lease the Westhampton School for $5,000/year.
"To think you can have four acres of land on the west end of Richmond for $5,000/year. That is ludicrous," Bruce Tyler, a councilman, said.
Tyler says the property should be leased at a minimum of $75,000/year or sold for millions. Tyler says those amounts of money would go directly to the school district.
"The way the deal was structured it basically eliminated money going to Richmond Public Schools," Tyler said.
All parties wanted to make clear that they want the Redskins training camp in Richmond, they just want to get the right value for the school property.
Both Tyler and Jewell were defeated in the November election but remain in office until the end of the year.
City Council will vote on the issue Monday night at 6pm. Stay with WTVR with updates.
