A heated debate unfolded Monday between city and county officials over the future of a vacant dirt lot next to the county fairgrounds, with both sides expressing differing views on how to proceed.
“I just feel like the meeting didn’t flow for a leadership standard the way I would’ve liked to have seen,” Caldwell City Economic Development Director Steve Jenkins said at the opening of the meeting, which aimed to address tensions following last month’s discussions among county commissioners.
While the city plans to move forward with a proposal for a new hotel on the lot, the county remains opposed to the project.
“Do you really want to go there?” said Commissioner Brad Holton highlighting the friction between the two entities.
Commissioner Leslie Van Beek said a city council member emailed her in early December to request a meeting with all council members and commissioners. However, after the mayor backed out, only two council members attended, prompting the commissioners to proceed with their meeting regardless.