Pigg said the reason the language was vague was because the negotiation process was not finished and certain details needed to be worked out.

Mayor Kevin Smith said that if the council voted down the resolution, it would be sending a negative message to the business world about Anderson.

After a caucus, Muir introduced an amendment, which required the company have 200 jobs created by Jan. 1 and 250 jobs created by Jan. 1, 2009, to keep the company accountable.

Bill Surbaugh, representative of First Realty LLC, said he did not agree with the amendment, and the deal would be cut short if it was added. The real estate company cannot be responsible for what its tenant does, Surbaugh said.

“That’s the best I can do,” he said.

Chamberlain was the deciding vote in the council to vote down the amendment. After threatening to walk out, Chamberlain decided to vote against the other Democrats on the council, as members of the audience yelled out, “It’s our tax dollars and we say go for it,” “We need these jobs,” “Do what the people want! We’re willing to take the chance.”

Chamberlain agreed with the audience. “I just can’t let a resolution stop 500 jobs from coming to Anderson,” he said.

However, he said, he would keep close watch on the company to make sure it was employing people from Anderson.

The Democratic council members, however, noted that the communication between the administration and the council was horrible.

“And I blame the mayor,” Donna Davis, D-2nd District and council president, said.