Is It Legal, Is It Ethical, Is It Reasonable?

The EDC/IDB because of some very questionable decisions and actions are named in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Of course the city and county taxpayers are the ones who will ultimately pay the price for some of these very arrogant decisions. You can read about that in the following post. 

The question is with the EDC, the IDB, the city and eventually the county all having separate attorneys who is paying the very high attorney fees? Well it seems at least for the IDC a very unique way of finding the money for such expenses has been found without alerting the public or even the County Legislative Body to the fact.  

Here's a very nice scenario a local banker representing the IDB loans money to that group. Property is sold but instead of the money being used to pay off the asset that was sold it is actually used to pay attorney fees leaving the county and city taxpayer to continue paying the mortgage on the sold property. Wow, that's like selling your house and instead of paying the mortgage holder you take all the money and buy a new car and expensive vacation then tell the mortgage holder that you're filing bankruptcy. Basically you take the money intended  for one thing and spend it on another then let someone else pay. That certainly seems to be the way IDC has chosen to operate. 

According to the minutes of a City Work Session dated 20 May 2013 with Aldermen Jeff Hatfield, Charles Jenkins, James Gentry, Pat Miles present along with City Attorney Andy Hoover, City Administrator Terry Harrison and Mayor Pat Ford.

This statement appears in those minutes; 

“Mayor Ford has spoken with Mark Hayes, IDB Rep, regarding the use of money from the sale of land from Integrity. This money is being used to pay for attorney fees relative to litigations with Wilson Stevenson. Mr. Hayes was advised by the banks to bring this to the City’s attention.”

If this is not one of the most underhanded tricks played on the taxpayer it certainly is high on the list. 

While I don't expect anything other than the usual blank stare and curled lip from the County Executive I do expect more from the County Legislative Body. 

My question is when will they act (certainly some have tried to stop this kind of madness but have met nothing but the frustration of stonewalls) and put a stop to this madness. 

Why Are Non-Elected, Unaccountable To Taxpayers Being Allowed To Put The County In Financial Jeopardy?

Why are some non-elected people, who mostly answer to no one, being allowed to make decisions that put both the city and county in financial jeopardy? Why should the citizens of the county and city have to pay huge amounts of tax dollars because of the bad, even stupid decisions made by these unelected, unaccountable appointees?

At the 27 August County Budget Committee it was announced that the county was now obligated to make over ten thousand dollars in past due payments for a speculation building. This is only half the amount past due as the city is committed to pay half.  It was also stated that over seven thousand dollars a month would be required from the city and county to make payments on this property.  That apparently does not include the additional cost of insurance (wonder who carries that policy) and maintenance (grass cutting, utilities etc).      

Now, isn’t it reasonable that the county and city pay the bills on a spec building they authorized to be built? Certainly, if they actually authorized the building, they should pay the bills. This is the same building that was illegally held by the EDC (Economic Development Committee) from 2007 to 2011 when they were forced to turn the building over to the IDB (Industrial Development Board).

Now here’s the rub. This building was leased and occupied until November of 2012 without a single monthly payment being missed. In fact over a million dollars was spent by the lease holder making the building suitable for his use. Twelve employees had been hired and eleven more were planned for. It seemed that the county had a very good tenant providing  good jobs; so what happened?  Keep in mind that no payments were missed or late and no violations of the lease had taken place and that the person who had leased the building practically begged everyone from the mayor to the problem makers not to force him out.  None the less the appointed elites terminated the lease and forced the man to close his business and leave town. A multi-million dollar lawsuit has now been filed and the courts will eventually decide the matter and who ends up with the egg on their collective faces.  This lawsuit has resulted in both the IDB and EDC each hiring separate attorneys in spite of the fact that the City Attorney,  last year had drawn up papers that would have allowed the buy- out of the lease without a lawsuit but the arrogance of small town minds refused.

Now all those Mr. Hayes, Mr. Rackley, Mr. Speer, Mayor Ford and others that may have been involved in these decisions are standing free and clear of any personal obligations while the taxpayers once again are left holding a very large bag full of IOU’s.   

Wonder why they waited until after the budget was approved to announce that these new expenses would have to be paid from the budget, could it possibly have been because the EDC and IDB and its leadership was already being criticized for excessive spending and less than above board dealings.