For Chattanooga City Council, business comes before pleasure

For the Chattanooga City Council, business came before pleasure on the eve of the holiday weekend when the body reconvened in order to accommodate Councilwoman Deborah Scott.

The council met Friday to continue discussion on the transfer of 900 acres at Enterprise South to Volkswagen, which ultimately was approved in a 6-1 vote. Scott was the only no vote, and Councilman Russell Gilbert and Councilwoman Carol Berz were absent.

The land transfer appeared to be routine business, but was bogged got down at Tuesday's council meeting when Scott said she needed more time to read documents outlining the transfer.

Scott stood her ground at Tuesday's meeting during an exchange with Councilman Jack Benson, who said the council needed to approve the item before the end of the year.

Benson: "I really don't know the qualifications Ms. Scott has to interpret that kind of material."

Scott: "Mr. Benson, I feel quite qualified to read documents after two and one-half years of reading documents. Have you read them?"

Benson: "No, and I have no intention of reading them."

Scott: "Well there you go. I'm just a little more diligent, thank you very much."

Benson, who asked to put the item on the agenda, said it was a time sensitive issue that needed to be done before the end of the year.

"We are going to cost the city more than you are in the position to interpret," he said.

Gilbert and Andrae McGary supported Scott's wishes, but several motions failed because Berz was absent and Councilman Manny Rico left early, leaving only seven members present. The council was split 3-4 and it takes five votes to approve any council action.

Volkswagen attorney Mike St. James said the company needed the lots before the year's end to complete a business deal. The property is a swap for land Volkswagen allowed Amazon to have.

City Attorney Mike McMahan said he relied upon the expertise of the attorney hired by the city, county and the title company to prepare the deeds and search titles.

"I need to read the documents," Scott said. "We should not subordinate our responsibility to the attorney for the other party."

Scott's motion to defer failed with a 3-4 vote. A motion by Benson to approve the item received a 4-3 vote. Councilman Peter Murphy's offered a compromise motion to approve the critical lot and leave the ones in question for another vote. The motion also failed with a 4-3 vote.

Councilwoman Sally Robinson, who said as a real estate professional she relied upon experts to interpret contracts for her, suggested the council recess and convene Friday morning before the 10 a.m. Christmas party at City Hall.

Murphy said he respected Scott's position but he also believed it was the council's responsibility to promote economic development.

"This could have economic consequences for our community and that too is part of my job," he said, offering a motion to recess for an hour. The motion failed for lack of second.

Scott received a round of applause from the audience for her stand. Chairwoman Pam Ladd said she appreciated the audience's comments, even as she warned them against interrupting council discussion.

Residents Rev. Anthony Chatman and Cynthia Stanley Cash addressed the council in the public input portion, speaking of their respect for Scott's stand.

"My hat is off to Representative Scott," Chatman said, also talked about the redistricting plan the council adopted and about the Wilcox Tunnel.