Lack of a ‘paper trail’ may complicate issue

A lack of documentation and seemingly more questions than answers has City Council members and the Board of Trustees at Cabinet View Golf Club at odds over a preliminary plat extension and who will pay for a part of a sewer extension of $581,000.

Cabinet View officials and the City Council clashed during Monday’s meeting, and ultimately, Mayor Doug Roll tabled further discussion until he could consult with past administrators.

“I’m going to pull this from the agenda,” Roll said. “You have your people here. We’d like to have our former council members here. ... We’ll see if we can’t have a sit-down.”

CVGC is seeking a plat extension so it can ultimately sell property to pay the city back for a $1.54 million development loan. Thus far, CVGC has been unable to sell enough lots to make a substantial payment.

So far, the parties seem to be at an impasse because neither side can come to an agreement because much of the paperwork is unavailable, a point not wasted on Council President Bill Bischoff.

“I’m worried for both parties — we’ll end up in court. Don’t have a leg to stand on, ” Bischoff said.

With the lack of paperwork, Lincoln County Planning Director Kristen Smith said the burden of proof falls to the city to prove its case.

“As a certified professional planner, it’s part of my job to advise city and county of this,” Smith said.

“This is a legal code of ethics I must adhere to.”

The item is put on the Nov. 21 Council agenda.