Commissioners: Elio's future out of our hands

Exclusive: Watchdog reporter Alexandria Burris spoke to Caddo Parish Commissioners about Elio Motors. Check back with The Times for updates on this story.

Some Caddo Parish Commissioners say they still believe in the future of Elio Motors and the nearly 1,500 jobs the auto start-up promised to bring to Northwest Louisiana, despite several production delays.

"I don't think we need to panic," said Michael Williams, District 3 commissioner. "We need to be cautious, and we need to keep calm and carry on."

Last week, Paul Elio, CEO and founder of Elio Motors, announced production of the three-wheel Elio has been pushed back for the third time — until the first half of 2016.He once again attributed the delay to a lack of funding.

Despite the admission, Williams isn't the only commissioner still hopeful about Elio Motors opening for business in Caddo Parish. Michael Thibodeaux, John Escude, Lyndon B. Johnson and Doug Dominick say they also hope the automaker is successful.

While Williams is "cautiously optimistic" about Elio's future, the commissioner said he still feels the administration made a good decision when it comes to the former General Motors assembly plant, which the parish's Industrial Development Board purchased for $7.5 million in taxpayer dollars and leased to developer Stuart Lichter.

Lichter, in turn, subleased some space in the building to Elio Motors and is assisting it in setting up operations there. After Commission Ken Epperson's District 12 community meeting Thursday, Elio told reporters he needs roughly $230 million more to start production on his vehicle which is slated to sell for $6,800. He said he has roughly $65 million.

Johnson of District 2, said Elio's future in the GM Plant is not for the commission to decide. The building is in the hands of IDB which has an agreement with Lichter, Johnson said.

"I know it's a start-up venture and there's a lot of red tape," he said. "There's a lot of testing that has to be done before that vehicle is put the road."

Even if Elio never opens, Thibodeaux of District 9, said he's confident Lichter will find tenants for the building.

"We're disappointed that there's a delay but that delay is strictly between Stuart Lichter and Elio," Thibodeaux said. According to the commissioner, Lichter, who also invested in Elio, is paying $25,000 monthly lease for the building and is responsible for upkeep and security.

Dominick, from District 1,said hopefully something positive happens. Dominick says the commission will do what it can to speed up the process. But he also said Lichter, and not the parish, has an agreement with Elio Motors.

Escude, from District 8, who ended up getting contract work at the GM Plant with Elio Motors partner Comau, also said he's confidence Lichter will make the best decision for the Caddo community.

Though, at this point, Escude said there's nothing the commission can do to advocate to get other tenants in the building. "No one can really advocate to do anything about the reserved Elio space until it's available,"he said.

@allyburris