In his Mayor’s Report Wednesday, Douglas Mayor Ray Borane expressed anger at the lack of progress on the proposed Best Western Hotel on Pan American Avenue and 7th Street.

Mayor Ray Borane swears in Louie Acedo as councilman for Ward 6 Wednesday afternoon.

“This whole project has been an embarrassment to the council,” Borane said at the Douglas City Council.

The builders of the hotel apparently had problems securing more financing for the project. But what has upset Borane is that the owner of the hotel, Paco Patel, told the mayor and city manager, Curtis Shook, that he would inform them both with weekly updates.

Six weeks later Shook has not heard from Patel. As a result, the mayor and council are concerned with Patel’s ability to meet the legal deadlines of the original sales agreement.

Borane is proposing that the council ask for the property back and offer it for sale to a different company.

In other action the council swore in Louie Acedo as councilman for Ward 6.

Acedo said he was honored to be appointed to the council and that he wants to work toward making Douglas a better place to live.

√ The Council approved resolution 07-520, which authorizes an agreement between the city and Cochise County to provide certain election supplies and services for the city’s primary and general elections scheduled for March 11, 2008 and May 20, 2008.

√ Approved resolution 07-521, which approves the application to the Greater Arizona Development Authority for Financial Assistance pursuant to Title 41, chapter 10, article 8 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

√ A).Approved resolution 07-522, which authorizes a loan agreement between the city and Water Infrastructure Authority of Arizona evidencing a loan from said authority to the city in an amount not to exceed $4,5000 for wastewater improvement; authorizing and directing the city manager to execute and deliver all documents relating to the loan; and pledging wastewater system revenue fee for payment of the loan.

√ B). Approved resolution 07-523, which authorizes the delivery of a loan agreement between the city and the Water Infrastructure Authority of Arizona evidencing a loan from said authority to the city in an amount not to exceed $1,500 for drinking water improvements.

√ Approved a contract with Bank of America for procurement card services.

√ Proceeded with the cancellation of ASP contract with HTE and begin steps toward bidding of a windows based financial software system and seek financing for an information technology infrastructure project.

√ Approved a bid in the amount of $54,400 to Byrd’s Sheet Metal & Construction under the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program.

√ Approved the revised salary schedule due to minimum wage increase effective January 2008.

√ Approved the reclassification of the police chief salary range.