Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry said he doesn't want to give up yet on striking a deal to allow city and county government to share two downtown buildings. The mayor has asked other city and county elected officials to join him on a task force that would have 60 days to resolve what only last week looked like irreconcilable differences.

Money is the obstacle. The city estimates that Allen County's share of renovation costs in the project would be $7.3 million. On Thursday, Allen County Council voted to approve up to $3 million toward the cost of renovating Renaissance Square.

Henry said the task force should be composed of three members of Allen County Council, three Fort Wayne City Council members, all three Allen County Commissioners and the mayor.

After the mayor's news conference Tuesday, Allen County Councilman Roy Buskirk said, “That's fine. I'm willing to meet and talk. But I'm still going to come back to our financial responsibility. Two-thirds of my constituents live in Fort Wayne,” Buskirk said, adding that he feels compelled to do what he can to see that city spending is prudent.

When Fort Wayne City Council met Tuesday evening, City Council President Tom Smith, R-1st, appointed himself to that task force, along with Mitch Harper, R-4th, and Tim Pape, D-5th.

City Councilman Tom Didier, R-3rd, commended Henry's decision to try again to work out a deal with Allen County government.

“I really feel that we didn't do every single thing possible,” Didier said. “I want to keep city and county together.”

Councilman Glynn Hines, D-6th, said members of that task force ought to publicly describe exactly what issues prevent the city and county from reaching an agreement.

“I am convinced the City-County Building and 200 E. Berry St. represent a one-of-a-kind opportunity to better serve the public and make the best use of our resources. I believe a unified solution will spur greater cooperation and cost savings, to the benefit of all taxpayers and residents. I am confident we can find that answer, one that will reaffirm our sense of community, even as it creates lasting value,” the mayor said Tuesday when he announced his task-force request.

In a statement released after the mayor's news conference, the three county commissioners supported the effort.

“We welcome Mayor Henry's offer to sit down face-to-face with elected county leaders and discuss space needs issues surrounding the City-County Building and the Renaissance Square building. We have always felt such meetings were needed if both sides are to reach a cooperative agreement that would address our respective needs and fiscal concerns,” the statement said.