Contractor storms out of city council meeting over “blight fight” fund allocation.
A City Council meeting grew tense Monday when a local businessman fighting for a piece of $2 million in blight fight contracts stormed out of the room while shouting expletives.
The council approved the blanket demolition contract that seven companies will share over the next year. The decision came on the heels of a number of contractors complaining to the council about their exclusion from that list.
One of those with grievances was James W. Owens, owner of Saginaw’s Owens Contracting Services, Inc.
He complained the city disqualified his business from the bidding because officials claimed he owed City Hall money. “I don’t owe the city nothing,” Owens said. “If I do, prove it.”
When Saginaw Development Director Odail Thorns addressed the issue and said the city had mailed out information about unpaid bills, Owens rose quickly from his seat near the center of the room, barked expletives within two feet of Thorns, turned and stormed out of the council chambers while continuing to swear.
Police Chief Gerald H. Cliff also rose from his seat in the back of the room but sat back down when Owens exited.
Three contractors at the meeting expressed frustration at being left out of the contract. Some had issues with a point system City Hall used to rank 12 bidding companies. Five of the businesses, including Owens’ company, were disqualified for various reasons.
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