The construction manager for Paul Brown Stadium can't say how many minorities - if any - were hired through the efforts of a woman who was to attract minorities and females to jobs building the stadium. But, says Turner Construction vice president Kenneth Butler, his company is happy with the $200,000 job she did.

Lovie Ross' RMG Associates contracted with the stadium's construction management joint partnership of Turner/Barton Malow/D.A.G. to help draw minority-owned- and female-owned businesses into the project.

RMG Associates did not inform Turner officials about how many people were hired through a job fair - or the success rate of seminars intended to help minority businesses create partnerships with larger firms, Butler said. After she conducted an August 1997 job fair that attracted more than 400 people Ms. Ross asked companies involved how many people they interviewed, how many received second interviews and how many were hired.

While she reported other results of that survey to Turner, statistics on interviews and hirings were not included in documents The Post reviewed Tuesday.

"Everything we've got, you've got, and she says that's all the information she has," Butler said. Ms. Ross has not returned calls.

"I'm not asking her to tell me how she spent the money," Butler said. He said the joint partnership contracted with her "to do certain work for a certain price, and she did it, and we paid her for it. I think she did a good job for us," Butler said.

It's "impossible to tell" how many who attended the job fair later worked on stadium construction, he said.

Butler said Ms. Ross' efforts were hindered by a federal court that declared unconstitutional the county's attempt to set aside 15 percent of the construction work for minorities. That percentage was included in a memorandum of understanding between the city and county.

The promise of 15 percent minority participation helped make the countywide half-cent sales tax to build new stadiums more politically palatable to black voters.

When the court toppled the 15 percent set-aside, "the rules of the game changed as construction started," Butler said.

"Lovie Ross represents an established, ongoing business entity in this community that has had a longstanding relationship with Turner Construction," county Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said. He said he is confident she did a professional job.

The county earlier this year said that it had given 7 percent of contracts to minorities and women.

In addition to the job fair, Ms. Ross held forums for minority- and women-owned businesses to demystify the process of getting stadium work.

Most company officials who attended those sessions found them useful, according to survey results Ms. Ross reported to Turner.

"I've been participating in the minority participation process for almost 15 years," one unnamed company official wrote. "This is by far the best organized effort I've seen in city/Hamilton County to date. I now have hope. Thank you."

Another wasn't so sure: "I believe there is a better and fairer way to include many more minority construction contractors than will be included if the county continues to pursue this avenue!" that person wrote.

Turner said his company's officials were careful to avoid conflicts of interest with Ms. Ross.

That is why Turner's work with her ended before another company owned by Ms. Ross - Penquin Painters - bid for - and won - one of three stadium painting contracts, Butler said.