A businessman who was the preliminary winner of a $5 million county contract tried to pull out after suspended DeKalb Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis asked him for $25,000 and offered to help smooth out problems with the pending deal, Terry Merrell testified Tuesday.
Merrell, co-owner of family-owned Merrell Bros. Inc. in Kokomo, Ind., testified the agreement to take waste-water and spread it over crops was problematic because the original local business he partnered with was in trouble. He was in the process of securing approval for a replacement “local small business,” which was required for the county project, when Ellis called him.
Merrell said after Ellis asked for a contribution he offered to make a call to smooth out the situation with his county contract.
“What he said next just sent shivers through my spine,” Merrell testified. “He said ‘do you want me to make a phone call’ and I said, ‘no, I don’t want you to make a phone call.’ I didn’t want any part of that.”
Merrell testified that Ellis still responded “I have a feeling that will get worked out,” referring to Merrell’s request to be allowed to change his local business affiliation.
via Witness: Ellis asked for $25,000 campaign contribution | www.ajc.com.
Comments ( 0 )