Phenix City Council has halted its attempt to add four of its members to the Downtown Redevelopment Authority after the authority voted unanimously to transfer $250,000 to the city to be used by the city’s newly created Economic Development Department.

The council also voted to rescind an earlier resolution asking the authority to dissolve itself.

Redevelopment Authority Chairman J.W. Brannen, who refused to allow the councilors — Jimmy Wetzel, Max Wilkes, Michelle Walker and Arthur Sumbry — to be seated, was replaced by Michelle Walker when his six-year term expired Feb. 17.

“When they stated that they wanted to use the money to create an in-house economic development operation, that’s what we thought it should go for,” Brannen said.

“After that there was no point in them trying to dissolve the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, which they couldn’t do. I said all along we would take those four members when the court told us to. They tried to create additional members for voting power, but it would not have ever worked unless they changed the law.”

Brannen said although he is off the board, the development of Phenix City’s riverfront is still a top priority to him. City officials said although they did not reappoint Brannen to the authority, they are still open to input from him on economic development.

“The Downtown Redevelopment Authority voted unanimously to turn over the money,” Wetzel said. “The five original members met and they voted to turn over the money and they already have turned the money over.”

The appointed council members did not attempt to contest the authority meeting without them being involved.

Wetzel, who launched the effort to dissolve the board, said he did so only to develop transparency on the authority. Now he said he feels the newly created city department and the appointment of Walker to the board accomplishes just that.