Japan trip stirs controversy at Athens City Council meeting

ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF)- A vote over whether or not to authorize a trip to Japan stirred controversy at last night’s Athens City Council meeting.

The special called meeting was spurred by a desire to send the city manager and mayor of Athens to an economic conference in Tokyo and to meet with officials in their sister city of Isahaya (E-SUH-HI-UH).

The city of Athens has seen investment from Japanese companies such as the manufacturer Denso.

However, there were concerns raised over whether or not city funds are being used for this travel, to which Vice Mayor Jordan Curtis says is being funded by the non-profits Athens Parks Foundation.

This led to a debate as to whether or not it should be the place of city officials to travel internationally to get investment.

Council member Steven Sherlin said, “The city manager and the mayor has no authority to negotiate with any foreign entity period. They cannot. They cannot even make offers to anyone foreign or domestic without council approval.”

Council member John Duggan countered by saying, “We’re in a dead city, people. We’re in a dead city. We’re divided to where we either sit on our hands and hope we get something, have those that are going after, and those that just don’t care… Seeing all the scrutinizing now, I don’t know if I want to go on any of them, because if I don’t bring anything back I’m going to get stoned in the parking lot.”

The Council voted to authorize the trip by a 3 to 2 vote.