The verdict is in: A $20.7 million loss (“City loses $20.7 million lawsuit to Overlake developer,” June 23) plus $3.5 million flushed down the toilet in legal fees clearly qualifies former Tooele City Mayor Charlie Roberts as the single worst mayor in the history of the state of Utah.

The facts presented by Tooele Associates in this trial were the exact same items that were brought before Roberts originally. When Roberts did nothing to alleviate the breaches of contract, developer Drew Hall then presented these issues to the Tooele City Council. The council also stuck their collective noses up at him. They did not investigate the claims made by Hall. They did not refresh themselves with the terms of the development agreement. Councilman Mike Johnson, in all his wisdom, plainly told Hall to sue Tooele City if he didn’t like what was happening.

So Hall did.

Hall had a legal document in hand that he knew was being violated by the very entity that wrote it. Where is the extraordinary legal opinion of Tooele City Attorney Roger Baker in all of this? Baker should have known the ins and outs of the entire development agreement, since he wrote or reviewed every word of it. We seem to be a little weak in contract law at City Hall. A change seriously needs to be made when it comes to the city attorney.

The city council, under the “leadership” of Johnson and Steve Pruden, continued to support the ongoing breaches of contract, many of which have happened in the last two years. If these two elected officials were genuinely interested in what was best for Tooele City residents in the long term, then they would have individually investigated the claims of Hall. They did nothing of the sort. Instead, they have thrown good money after bad, year after year, all in the name of defending the city from a tyrant. But who did this jury decide the tyrant was?

When this lawsuit began, Tooele City hired an attorney, Jody Burnett, who worked the case for about a year. He warned city officials to be careful. When Burnett was asked to be more aggressive and push the “gray” areas, he gave up the case. What did Johnson do? He suggested the current firm, Holme, Roberts & Owen. They were more than happy to pursue the city’s desires, and collect a very meaningful paycheck in the meantime.

So what is the result of the verdict? Another closed-door session of the Tooele City Council. Amazing. I think I would appreciate differing opinions or a fresh perspective after having my hind end handed to me on a silver platter like the city just did. This tells me that the egos of 80 percent of the council are still in the way, and that they do not have the ability to make decisions that are to the long-term benefit of Tooele City residents. It is time for the council to start acting like public servants instead of royalty.

In conclusion, I would suggest some personal liability being taken on by the city council if they continue to spend taxpayer money in this manner. Start spending your own money and leave mine to benefit the parks and the streets. Step up to the plate or step down.

Sam Woodruff is a certified public accountant in Tooele who served as finance director for Tooele City from 1995 to 2004.