During Tuesday’s meeting of the Amarillo City Council, councilmember David Prescott addressed concerns regarding work performed by his company, Talon LPE, at the site connected to Fermi America prior to the council’s approval of a water supply agreement with the company in October.
Questions were raised after Talon LPE was identified as having conducted environmental soil boring work at the Fermi America location. Concerns centered on whether Prescott should have recused himself from votes involving city business connected to Fermi America.
During the meeting, Prescott said Talon LPE’s work came through a subcontractor rather than through a direct agreement with Fermi America itself.
“Talon did not drill wells or perform any groundwater-related work. Talon had no direct contractual relationship with Fermi America,” Prescott said.
According to Prescott, Talon LPE was hired by a third-party company to perform test drilling at the site, and all soil samples collected during the work were turned over to the subcontractor that hired the company.
Prescott also said the work performed by Talon LPE was completed before any Fermi-related item was presented to the Amarillo City Council for consideration. He said neither he nor any members of his family have stock or any other financial interest in Fermi America.
During the discussion, Prescott also stated that the agreement approved by the city council involved the purchase of water and that none of the drilling work conducted by Talon LPE involved water access or groundwater development.
“In response, Prescott says all work was done before any item involving Fermi was brought for a vote by the council,” according to statements presented during the meeting coverage.
Prescott also said he could have discussed Talon LPE’s work at the site when the council considered the agreement, but maintained that he was not required to do so.
The discussion Tuesday focused largely on whether the previous subcontracted work created the appearance of a conflict of interest, despite Prescott’s statement that Talon LPE had no direct contract with Fermi America and no involvement in groundwater-related drilling.
Records from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also indicate that Amazon conducted soil testing activity at the site around the same period. According to TCEQ records, Amazon used an out-of-state company to conduct its testing work.
The October water supply agreement between the city and Fermi America has remained a point of public discussion as development plans tied to the project continue moving forward in the Amarillo area.
