A discussion about sidewalks and the housing market got sideways at the Mexico City Council meeting last week.

Councilman Steve Haag was upset with the media and professionals who had spoken before the council in previous meetings for, “setting a narrative” that the city council doesn’t want developers building in the city. Haag also took issue with the vocabulary of some who are confusing “developers” with “contractors.”

“In my mind, a contractor swings a hammer,” Haag said. “I don’t think anybody's going to come to the microphone and swing a hammer.

“We’re reporting it to the news and the news is blasting out that we’re against contractors coming to Mexico,” Haag went on to say. “I know some of us talk to contractors and they haven’t said that. Now we’re getting the community thinking contractors aren’t coming here when I saw a house go up Calhoun Street in four days. Either the media needs to get it right or the people coming up here need to get their vocabulary right because I think they’re developers and not contractors.”

Haag was asked to clarify what media reports he was speaking about but declined. Haag didn’t name anyone by name who had come to speak to the council.

Councilman Larry Webber said he spoke with a contractor and was told there’s always problems but nothing that cannot be overcome.

“He would not complain,” Webber said. “So you’re right I don’t think these contractors are saying, ‘Hey I can’t do this.’”

Some council members questioned whether or not the city should continue a program that gives a $10,000 incentive to developers per house they build. The city started the program in conjunction with Audrain County and used federal grant dollars to fund the program. Council Member Chris Miller said that money has to be paid back by taxpayers. On top of that Miller said he can’t think of another situation where the city gives money to a private business in this manner.

“We’ve covered the expenses,” Miller said. “This money we’re giving to individuals so their individual company can make more money. I know there are a lot of companies in this town that would be happy to get $10,000 for their company so they could make more money. It’s kind of fishy to me because I’m not sure that’s what (the federal grant money) was really for.”

The program is designed to help developers pay for infrastructure like water and sewer systems. Councilman Chris Williams said if developers don’t want to put in sidewalks they shouldn’t get the money.

“If they get the (federal grant money) they should put it in,” Williams said. “If they don’t take the money, that's a different subject.”

Miller also took issue with people who claimed it was expensive to build in Mexico compared to other cities when it came to hooking to utilities. He figured it cost less than the $10,000 incentive the city was giving to the developer to hook up to utilities. Miller also questioned claims made by real estate agents that Mexico doesn’t have inventory.

“We also heard we don’t have any houses. In one subdivision we have 10 houses done,” Miller said. “I don’t think any of them have sold. Are they too expensive? Are they in the wrong location? That’s really not our problem.”

Williams said he did a home for sale search and found 40 listings in Mexico for less than $250,000. Williams said there were more listings in Mexico than Centralia, Fulton and Moberly.

“I think we’ve got a lot of houses for sale,” Williams said. “I was a little shocked.”

During council comments Haag circled back around to his complaints about the media, real estate agents and developers who spoke a recent meetings. Haag said he didn’t want to get on a soap box but then proceeded to take the stage.

“I take offense to the one-sided media and the extravaganza of letters that we are not trying to help Mexico build. I take offense that we are making it hard for contractors,” Haag said. “I know they’re reading stuff in the paper and things like that. We’re not against bringing contractors here or stopping anyone from building houses here in Mexico.”

Haag was again asked to clarify and point to the story he was speaking about and he declined but did say, “I just think the narrative of who was talked to was that the contractor didn’t want to come here and I don’t think that’s true.”