City receives repayment of travel advance, industrial council still waiting
Following a Roanoke City Council vote Feb. 26 to take local businessman George Condy to court to recover funds advanced for a trip to South Korea, the issue with the city ended the next day with payment in full of the disputed amount.
Unlike at least one previous check submitted, City Clerk Ellen Farmer verified this one did clear the bank.
Condy received $4,851.54 to represent the city and $2,500 to represent the Randolph County Industrial Development Council on an industry-recruitment trip to South Korea last spring, but did not take the trip and did not return the monies, claiming preparation and other expenses.
Condy was supposed to represent the city and county at a meeting of potential Kia suppliers and existing Hyundai suppliers, but the trip was delayed. Randolph County Chamber of Commerce executive director Steve Dean did take the trip in July of last year, while Condy and Lamar Davis, RCIDC president, decided not to go after the trip’s purpose changed and they said it would not be as productive.
However, acting executive director of RCIDC Gerald Huddleston said he believed the trip was worthwhile.
RCIDC voted Feb. 27 to turn the issue of repayment of the $2,500 given to Condy for the same trip over to their attorney, Chad Lee, which Huddleston did Friday afternoon.
Condy had submitted a $900 check to RCIDC, claiming the rest for expenses, but the RCIDC board refused to accept anything but complete payment. Condy has consistently said he saved the public money by not taking the trip.
Condy, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Alabama Coating Technologies, LLC, was also chairman of the Roanoke Health Care Authority Board, until his resignation from the hospital board Feb. 27.
ALCOTE’s status is also questionable after he requested a meeting with the city council and no meeting was scheduled by the council. Mayor Spec Bonner, who championed the project, has said it is looking increasingly unlikely the auto supplier coating plants will become a reality.
