If not for a city government watch dog, would Elk Grove taxpayers have ever learned about Slow and Low loan default debacle?
Would the city manager or mayor have voluntarily disclosed the $500,000 default?
During the April 9, 2025, Elk Grove City Council meeting, an Elk Grove city government watchdog revealed that a restauranteur who received a $500,000 taxpayer loan was in default, and the city was starting foreclosure proceedings. Ms. Lynn Wheat made that revelation during public comment on non-agenda items.
According to Wheat's comments, she sent an email inquiry to city manager Jason Behrmann days before the city council meeting about the status of the loan to David Hargis, who opened the Old Town Elk Grove Slow and Low restaurant in May 2024, only to close it on December 31, 2024.
Wheat thanked Behrmann for his email response before the meeting, which said Hargis had defaulted on the $500,000 loan. Consequently, River City Bank seized $425,000 in Elk Grove taxpayers' deposits.
Wheat's revelation was made before Berhmann made his regular administrative report. During his report, Behrmann acknowledged Wheat's revelation and made a brief statement on Hargis' default and the city's foreclosure proceeding of real property collateralized for the loan.
While it was commendable for Behrmann to provide Wheat with an honest answer, it does leave a lingering question. Had Wheat not inquired, would the city manager have voluntarily disclosed the default?
Given that the city has initiated foreclosure proceedings, and a public notice will eventually be published, how many people will be aware? We can't help but wonder about elected officials' resistance to revealing any information that casts a negative light on them - and the entire Slow and Low saga is a negative statement about the decision-making process of Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her four city councilmen - had Wheat never asked the question, this information would be buried in some unseen staff report.
Elk Grove taxpayers should be thankful that citizens like Ms. Lynn Wheat keeps an eye on the antics of our local elected officials because they will not voluntarily be transparent about their actions.
Keep this in mind as the city's next saga and possible debacle unfolds - the Elk Grove Sacramento Zoo.
See Wheat's entire commentary in the video below.
