By Jim Siegel
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Hamilton County commissioners and Republican state lawmakers met Friday to resolve the county's $14 million request for stadium money.

Where commissioners once said they needed the entire amount this year, Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Mount Lookout, said there seems to be more willingness to split it into $7 million from the 2005 state capital budget, and $7 million in 2007.

"It's not as big of a conflict as it was a few weeks ago," he said.

Commissioners have worried how the county would cover its construction debts for the two stadiums, arguing state lawmakers committed in the past to provide the final $14 million in this capital budget.

Earlier this year Commissioner Phil Heimlich said the state could write checks only up to 18 months after stadium construction was finished in April 2004. But upon further investigation, Heimlich said that should no longer be an issue.

"I feel like one can't be inflexible in these situations," he said. "If they are willing to commit $7 million this year and $7 million in the next, I'm OK with that."

Heimlich said only Brinkman and Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Green Township, have shown willingness to go ahead with the plan.

"So far our delegation as a whole has not agreed to fulfill the pledge," he said. "I'm hopeful they will. Just because it's not legally binding doesn't mean it's not morally binding."

Seitz said nothing has been decided, but a key starting point is for the Hamilton Count leaders to create a single list of project priorities.

That's the plan Doug Moormann, vice president of governmental affairs for the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, is hoping for.

Moormann is trying to negotiate a consensus between local government and business leaders on project priorities.

Lawmakers likely will take up the capital budget when they return to session after the November election.

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E-mail jsiegel@enquirer.com