Give us all a break - with the state of the current economy, just be happy that there are SOME jobs entering the area and that SOME people are at work.

Councilman Leamon Pierce and Debbie Gaines: STOP being racists! STOP playing the 'race card,' and STOP making race an issue!

City Council members Leamon Pierce and Debbie Gaines said steps need to be taken to make sure minorities are part of the large workforce at the Volkswagen site.

Ms. Gaines said, "I've been to the site several times and I have noted the lack of minorities."

Mayor Ron Littlefield said the current site clearing is being done by the largest earthmoving firms in the country and they are using numerous subcontractors. He said as many as 250 workers have been at the site.

The mayor said, "I saw quite a few minorities. I felt good about what I saw."

Councilman Pierce is proposing that the City Council pass a resolution "urging Volkswagen Group of America Inc. to use its best efforts to maximize diversity among its employees at all levels of the corporate structure and to further utilize its best efforts to assure a diverse workforce and ownership of those companies and entities it chooses to construct its improvements to the Enterprise South site."

Ms. Gaines said the city and county are spending millions at the site, and deserve some hiring input.

City Attorney Randy Nelson said the state is spending $110 million and the city and county $20 million each on the $1 billion plant project.