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Deliberation on KCI terminal bid proposals to continue through end of week

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Members of the selection committee tasked with choosing a company to possibly build a new KCI terminal said deliberation will continue through Friday.

The four companies bidding for the project presented their plans to the committee on Monday. Since then committee members have spent almost 20 hours in just two days listening to the proposals and deliberating with financial advisers, legal experts, and the airlines themselves.

"We're making a decision that's going to impact generations to come," Councilman and committee member Jermaine Reed said Tuesday afternoon.

According to members, the committee submitted follow-up questions to all of the bidders. Answers are due by noon on Thursday. 

Councilwoman and committee member Jolie Justus told 41 Action News financial advisers will review the answers, and members will reconvene on Friday afternoon to deliberate.

"I don't know whether there will be an answer at that time. I would suspect there will not be because we might have additional questions that are raised," she said. 

In the meantime, 41 Action News took some of the renderings to travelers in a terminal at KCI. 

"It definitely would be good for Kansas City to get an upgrade," Evan Thomas, who frequently flies out of KCI, said.

"I just don't believe in fixing something that's not broke," Jennifer Brooks, another traveler, said.

Some passengers have complained about the lack of restaurants and retail within terminals. Others, like Brooks, could be hard sells come November. That's when voters will have to decide if they want a new terminal to be built. On Thursday KCMO City Council will discuss ballot language for that election.