The fight to oust a university cabinet member has a new revenue stream.

Members of the Board of Regents at Northwest Missouri State University authorized bumping the funds for attorneys from $5,000 to $50,000 during a closed-session meeting last week, according to board minutes.

A majority of the board voted to fire Joe Cornelison, Northwest’s general counsel and chief of staff, during a closed session meeting March 18. Mr. Cornelison has since filed suit alleging that the board acted outside the scope of its duties and violated the Missouri Sunshine Law, the state’s open meetings and records law.

University e-mails of the board members, which were requested by the News-Press last week, reveal that the board’s action has drawn fire from prospective tenants of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). The CIE, a new science building on the north side of campus, will serve as an incubator for technology-based business startups.

Carbolytic Materials Company, a company that extracts reusable byproducts out of automotive tires, signed a memorandum of understanding with Northwest in 2007. The company intends to hire 20 to 30 people to work in Maryville.

An e-mail to the regents from Raymond Riek, chief executive officer of Carbolytic, said the company has been “extremely pleased” with their dealings with Mr. Cornelison and that they are disappointed with his firing and see him as the “face of the university in Maryville.”

“We intend to develop a long-term relationship with Northwest and steadily increase our support of the university and its students,” Mr. Riek said. “This decision raises serious questions about the viability of this long-term relationship and the direction of Northwest.”

Also asking the board to reconsider its decision is Mark Hoeman, president of Hoeman Capital Management, which seeks out capital and locations for high-growth companies. Mr. Hoeman works with Carbolytic and Alyoop, a software company that is also partnering with Northwest. Mr. Hoeman said Mr. Cornelison has been the key person in relationship management between the university and his company.

“We now question the direction Northwest is heading and their commitment to grow the economy of the region,” Mr. Hoeman said in his e-mail to the board. “This decision may not only affect the University, but also the city of Maryville and Nodaway County in terms (of) job creation and investment in the community.”

Bill Loch, president of the Board of Regents, said it will adhere to commitments made to tenants of the CIE.

“The university has made commitments to the organizations and it’s the intent of the university and the board to uphold those commitments,” he said.

Mr. Loch conveyed similar sentiments to Nodaway County’s economic development leader, Lee Langerock, who also expressed concerns. He said in an e-mailed response to her that the board is committed to CIE growth and evolution.

“The plans and vision Dr. (Dean) Hubbard and his administration have established will be continued and expanded in the future,” Mr. Loch said in his response to Ms. Langerock’s query.

Judge Roger Prokes of the 4th Judicial Circuit granted a temporary restraining order that bars the board from taking further action against Mr. Cornelison, who was given 60 days’ notice on March 20. The next court hearing is scheduled for today.

Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com.