Sweetheart deal on WIS
FULL TEXT OF CAMERON’S SPEECH:
Cameron Runyan Remarks – 03/28/08 Press Conference
Thank you…everyone…for coming today. As was reported this morning in The State newspaper, there are numerous issues with the Five Points High Rise Project that have been well documented ranging from the City of Columbia providing $5.8 million for a sweetheart land deal to now very serious environmental concerns.
Therefore, initially today I want to document to the public, to the press… and hopefully to City Council how real these concerns really are… so here are documents from DHEC, environmental experts and, believe it or not, even our City of Columbia government that prove that there is hazardous waste on this site and these concerns alone are enough to warrant more due diligence on the project and this site will have to be cleaned up before any re-development can occur.
But unfortunately, I am afraid…I am here today to report that the specter of financial improprieties may also plague this project.
What has yet to be reported and was brought to my attention late yesterday afternoon is that before, during, and after the initial votes on this project, Councilman Daniel Rickenmann has had a direct financial relationship with the original owner of the Kenny’s Auto property and Mr. Rickenmann may have potentially violated state law.
The facts are:
Within roughly two months of the original owner selling his property across the street to developers who received our tax dollars…The original owner purchased a building owned by Mr. Rickenmann for what appears to be a significant profit.
Now I would like to provide you with three documents. First, the county’s two transaction statements detailing the sale of the Kenny’s property and Mr. Rickenmann’s building sale.
And finally I want to provide you with a copy of a section of our State Ethics law. Statute 8-13-725 states that…and I quote “a public official may not make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his office to influence a governmental decision in which he, a member of his immediate family, an individual with whom he is associated or a business with which he is associated has an economic interest.”
Now I cannot and should not be judge and jury on Mr. Rickenmann’s violation of this law. That should be looked at by the appropriate authorities. I can say that this statute gives me a great concern that Mr. Rickenmann may have violated some state laws.
But at a minimum, this doesn’t pass the smell test. Mr. Rickenmann should have at least abstained from voting to prevent the appearance of any impropriety.
Therefore, I would like to call on Mr. Rickenmann and City Council to do the following:
First, the City’s legal council should work with the State Ethics Commission, the County Solicitor and any other appropriate legal authorities to determine if any laws were violated.
Second, in the interest of public disclosure Mr. Rickenmann and the other parties should completely disclose all of the documents regarding the sale and purchase of the kenny’s property and Mr. Rickenmann’s building. Sun light is the best disinfectant…so this would go along way to clear the air.
Third, Mr. Rickenmann should no longer vote on any question before council related to this property.
This is clearly a bad deal for the City. Too many ethical and policy questions now exist. I hope that my efforts on the issue over the last few weeks will be impetus enough to give the rest of the council pause before proceeding.
Thank you and I would be glad to take any questions.
