Council And Mayor At Odds Over Handling of Restaurant Proposal
Albertville Could End Up With Applebee's Deal

March 4, 2008
Feelings between some city council members and Mayor Frank Lee Cox and administration officials were obviously on the raw side during the Monday night work session prior to the regular council meeting.  The feelings were a carryover from the recent Applebee's restaurant proposal controversy.

In an opening statement, Cox told the group that he had received answers to questions raised in a previous meeting about the possible effect on the City's future borrowing power if the Commercial Development Authority issued bonds to fund projects such as the Applebee's proposal.  Cox said he had received an opinion from the City's accounting firm that indicated that CDA bonds, known as tax increment obligations, would have no affect on their ability to borrow.  He said the CDA bonds would be similar to bonds recently issued by the Arab Sewer Board.  He also told the council that he had received an email indicating that Albertville had approached QRC about bringing the restaurant to their city. 

Cox also said that contrary to statements by some individuals, "We were not rushing at all."  "We were uncomfortable with the proposal at first until we had we discussed with QRC and understood what they were proposing," he added.  The CDA had gone over the numbers and records and were satisfied that it was a workable plan.  Cox said he realized that with small towns it is harder to get such a proposal across to everyone and to get it passed.

He also said that the proposal was pulled by QRC because of the negative publicity being reported in the media.  "They read some of the things on the internet and decided that they did want to cause controversy in the community."  "We weren't the ones who pulled it back, they were pretty adamant about it, they want to go where they are wanted ." Cox added.

Councilman Larry Crawford said he didn't think anyone was really against them coming but that the council was not aware until the plan was presented at the meeting.  Councilman Ronny Shumate said he was shocked to learn that the deal had been in the works for nine months.  "We should have known about it...we should have been aware when it first started," Shumate told the Mayor.  Cox said, "We gave it to you as soon as they were ready to give it to you.  If they had wanted it shared we would have shared but when they don't want it shared we don't."  "That's our job," Cox said.  "We go to conventions all the time and all of the retailers want their discussions kept confidential and we are not going to betray their trust."

Shumate said he called Wassweiller with questions about the number of jobs that would be created.  "He told me the total would be around 70 and that 26 hours is considered full time.  He also told me that only management staff would receive benefits."  "That is different than the numbers he gave us during the council meeting."  Shumate said.

Councilman Russ Elrod said that everything that comes before the council is political.  "This is the first and only take it or leave it [deal] that I have seen since being on the council.  The minute questions were raised it was pulled from the table."  "Both sides wanted Applebee's and had we been given the opportunity I feel we could have worked something out."  Elrod added that he believed the spirit of commercial development is sill alive on the council.

Cox said that sometimes you have to get on the bus or get left behind.  "In this case the bus was leaving and we had to make a decision."  Crawford said the the council agreed not to go forward until we had more information.  Elrod said, "The citizens don't elect us to approve everything that a board brings to us."

Elrod said that every deal is open to negotiation.  Cox said the proposal was obviously not the same deal that was offered in the beginning.  "We have been negotiating for a long time.  This was the final deal and it was not our decision to pull it."  Elrod said it, "Doesn't speak highly of Mr. Wassweiller as a developer  to not let it go through the process."

Mayor Cox said he had not given up on the project and would be calling Wassweiller again on Tuesday to see if anything could be worked out.