By Lindley Gemme | Eloy Enterprise
“I’m just tired of having to defend myself,” Chamber of Commerce Director Belinda Akes told the Enterprise this week.
This was her immediate reaction after discovering a flier being circulated around town and on Facebook calling into question the city’s funding for the Chamber and the Economic Development Group of Eloy (EDGE) – both of which Akes factors greatly in.
This is just one of several tiffs between Mayor Joe Nagy and Akes in the last year, regarding business practices using city money at the Chamber. The
Chamber has been headed by Akes for the last six years, who answers to a board studded with local community leaders and business owners. Members include: Steven Hanes from APS, Eloy Police Chief Bill Pitman, County Judge Toni Lorona, Eloy Fire Chief Coy Amerson, John Gluch with CCA, IGA Food Town owner Bette Taylor, Norrie Burreal with Ivory Towers Realty, and City Manager Ruth Osuna as ex officio member.
But Mayor Nagy has been questioning the use of city funds and the viablitiy of the city’s chamber since he took office.
