Split council denies funds for Inland Energy bills

VICTORVILLE • On a split vote, the council opted not to approve allocating limited general fund reserves to pay $142,000 in bills from developer Inland Energy.

It remains to be seen how the invoices from last May and June will be paid, as staff is now tasked with finding an alternate funding source from amongst the city’s cash-strapped accounts.

Though Councilman Terry Caldwell during Tuesday’s council meeting made a motion to approve appropriating the funds to pay for consulting work Inland did last year, the vote failed 3-2 with Mayor Rudy Cabriales, Councilman Ryan McEachron and Councilwoman JoAnn Almond against it.

“Our general fund is not in good shape,” Cabriales said, before casting his vote of opposition. “...Every time we pay another bill like this, that could be two employees or one employee. $142,000 doesn’t sound like much to some people, but it’s a heck of a lot to me.”

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Brooke Edwards may be reached at (760) 955-5358 or at bedwards@VVDailyPress.com.