City manager Chester Murray ended negotiations with Gel Corp about two months ago, but kept telling people that negotiations were complete and all he needed was a signature on the one remaining document to end an on going legal snare. He ended the negotiations with one of his out bursts of temper. No deal was reached.
He then did the most amazing thing. He starting telling members of the Orange City Council and his own staff that he had successfully negotiated a deal with Gel Corp. It only went wrong when someone asked Gel Corp about the deal. Gel Corp said there was no deal.
When the city manager refused Gel Corp business license renewal it became clear that he was actually picking the next great expensive legal fight between the City of Orange City and Gel Corp. So what’s next? Maybe a police action against Gel Corp. Should Gel Corp be seized by the police or the gates locked it will signal the intensifying of legal conflict that could cost millions of tax payer dollars.
The coming millions of tax payer dollars that will be spent could have been avoided, but when the truth slipped away from the city manager so did the hope of a settlement.
Mr Strickland:
Your ability to never let the truth stand in the way of sensationlism never ceases to amaze me.
Chester Murray
Interium City Manager
City of Ornage City
Must be an election coming up in Orange City. The tactic of trying to create an image of “something is rotten” at City Hall is an attempt to create polarizing campaign issues. The new against the old. Good drama certainly, but not very productive for the betterment of the community that a positive debate would provide.
I don’t know anything about the current situation with GEL but I will say this. The city has wated too much of the taxpayers money on this, All because a former council member CHOSE to move near an existing landfill.