Two attorneys representing the companies owed $6.5 million by the city of McCall said their clients are willing to work with the city of McCall on a payment plan.
Wayne Meuleman, an attorney with the Boise law firm Meuleman Mollerup LLP who represents St. Clair Contractors Inc., said he and Employers Insurance of Wausau attorney Ron Blewett are willing to work with the city.
"If they will commit to work diligently to resolve payment on this judgment as is permitted under state law, we will work with then," Meuleman said in an interview on Tuesday.
"There's a way legally to finance the balance of the judgment through long-term general obligation bond so that you don't hit taxpayers immediately with the whole load," he said.
Meuleman wants the city to work toward a resolution instead of spending time considering ways to delay a federal judge's order last month requiring immediate payment.
"It takes an attitude of seeking a way to do it and not seeking a way not to do it," he said. "We will work with them."
Blewett, Wausau's attorney from the Lewiston law firm Clark & Feeney Attorneys at Law, addressed the McCall City Council at last Thursday's regular meeting.
He prefaced his comments by saying he was making the comments with the full reservation of rights for his client, Employers Insurance of Wausau.
"Through the years, there's been some disconnect from where you are at and where we are at," Blewett said. "In seven years, there's one time when the city has said 'Ron let's get together.' One time and that was two hours ago."
"I've watched through the years one calamitous decision after another of the city council," he said. "If you wish to choose the bankruptcy route, it's OK with us because we are going to come out either way. I'm overweight, but I'm no 800-pound gorilla; I'm still knocking at the door."
Blewett told the council that he was skeptical that the city was doing everything it could to resolve the problem.
"I want to work with you," he said.
