Two Blue Ridge city council members say they are determined to make sure spending $750,000 is in the best interest of the city.
Nathan Fitts and Rhonda Haight agreed last week they won’t vote for buying the Highland Baptist Tabernacle property unless their research proves it is necessary.
Both voted in favor of a contract to purchase the property in the Mineral Springs area when the council met March 10, but point out that agreement contains a 60-day due diligence clause. The city can walk away from the deal during that time with no penalty.
Fitts said Friday, “We’re not for purchasing that property unless we have to. We didn’t think we had a choice.”
Haight echoed his concern, saying “we are basing our decisions on what we’re being told.”
That information included that the city is facing a hefty EPD fine if a retention pond is not built and that the current city shop property would be a perfect place for it.
They agreed they do not know whether or not that information is correct.
Fitts said he had asked for documentation regarding the EPD fine, but has received nothing.
Haight said she was told by the city engineer he had not looked at the possibility of the pond being located on the city shop property off East Main Street.
Fitts said he and Haight are working “to make the most economical sense of all this.”
He said that process started about seven months ago because of the alleged EPD threat.
“We’re asking for documentation on everything now,” Fitts said.
Fitts and Haight agreed they are going to “do the right thing for the city,” once they have all the information.
“We’re all here for the same reason,” Fitts said. “We’re (city council) the final decision making body” for the city.