http://66.225.205.104/JR20111114.mp3
The Charlotte City Council will be asked tonight to approve a contract that will make Bank of America the exclusive provider of ATMs at the Charlotte Airport for the next three years. At least one Councilman - Warren Cooksey - said Friday he will not support booting other banks from the Charlotte Airport in favor of an exclusive deal with Bank of America. Several others on the council said they're undecided, and a little concerned about alienating airport travelers who aren't Bank of America customers. Councilman Andy Dulin says he doesn't want to stand in the way of tourists having access to their money, "you know, cause they're gonna come to Charlotte and if they're getting cash, they're gonna spend it!" But on Friday, Dulin said he was torn about how to vote on the ATM contract. "People understand the bottom line and making money at a city asset and they appreciate Jerry Orr watching that bottom line and running a city asset as profitably as possible," said Dulin. Airport Director Jerry Orr says an exclusive deal with Bank of America will raise about $400,000 more per year than a deal where multiple banks continue to offer ATMs at the Charlotte airport. Orr says Bank of America out bid other banks for the exclusive three-year contract that guarantees the airport an annual payment of $1.2 million and $.75 per ATM transaction.