Loveland debate gets a little ugly

From reporter Jane Prendergast:

It's common at Loveland City Council meetings for Councilman Paul Elliott to be the odd man out. He often votes against the tide.

But Elliott-versus-someone else got a little ugly during Tuesday night's discussion about building a pool and recreation center on a site adjacent to Phillips Park, and asking residents to vote in May to increase their income taxes percent to pay for it.

Elliott acted almost surprised when the vote came to designating the 15.22-acre site at Rich and Fallis roads the preferred site for the new facility, even though the site has been talked about for months and is even outlined as the preferred site on the city's Web site.

He said he didn't like it when council members were scheduled to act on an issue the same night they'd held a public hearing. He said it could seem to people that their comments didn't figure in.

Councilman Todd Osborne said it was "idiotic" for Elliott to pretend as if he hadn't known what site was going to be chosen.

Elliott said he'd been called worse.

Mayor Rob Weisgerber jumped in: "Let's keep the name-calling to a minimum."