NOREEN: Troubled USOC deal raises many questions

Let's play 20 questions.

Because when it comes to the troubled $53 million U.S. Olympic Committee deal, there are far more questions than Colorado Springs city hall has answers for.

What do we know?

We know the city, backed by the El Pomar Foundation, kept the USOC here a year ago by dangling an incentive package and bringing in a local developer to get the job done. We know the city promised to issue certificates of participation for the deal by Nov. 14 and did not do it. The developer, Ray Marshall, has sued the city.

We know Marshall had financial woes before the city's failure to pay. We know the 4th Judicial District Attorney's office has a criminal investigation involving Marshall, but we don't know what for.

We know, for sure, that this is a big mess. What would we like to know? What mistakes were made?

"Nobody made a mistake," Councilman Larry Small said. "Everything that's happened since March has to do with the economic situation."

Was Marshall vetted before the deal was signed? Who was assigned to check his oil?

"I'm quite sure everyone was looked at in terms of their ability to do it," Small said.

Did the city know Marshall and a partner were suing each other in 2007? That's the kind of thing you'd like to know before you make someone your partner.

Or did the city know about Marshall's troubles and ignore them? Either way, it doesn't look good, does it?

Was it part of the USOC's responsibility to vet Marshall as well? It looks like the deal can be salvaged, but it's going to cost taxpayers more, isn't it?

"Obviously, the deal needs to be renegotiated," said Councilman Tom Gallagher, who distanced himself a bit by noting, "the mayor's a finance guy. I'm a surveyor."

Mayor Lionel Rivera and other council members didn't return calls. They've met in secret.

But when deals get renegotiated, they tend to become more expensive for somebody, right?

In the city election in measure 1A, the council is asking taxpayers for about $50 million to pay for economic development activities that could include future incentive packages. Is it wrong to question, based upon the current track record, how much city hall can be trusted to navigate the pitfalls of future incentive deals?

"People are trying to draw that connection. I wouldn't do that," said Councilman Scott Hente.

"I don't see a connection between the two," Small said.

If 1A passes, could money from it be used to back-fill the USOC deal?

Council members said no. OK, but if the deal may cost taxpayers more, where would the extra money come from?

After a series of questions, Small finally said, "You infuriate everybody."

Guilty as charged.

Isn't it true the council also infuriates people?

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