Contradictory stories

Lakeside.com Editorial

Councilor Tim Crockett presented contradictory stories to the city council concerning baling equipment used for grass removal on the lower sewer property. And the mayor backed him in what, charitably could be called a “contradiction of facts” that later came out.

As Nelson’s so-called “commissioner” of the sewer department (a farce of a label with no known meaning in law), Crockett gave a sewer department report.

The utility tractor mower with attachments the city currently uses was purchased for a whopping $66,000, in 2005 for the very purpose of mowing the fields where treated sewer effluent is sprayed.

With nothing wrong with the equipment, Crockett said it “will continue to be “used for the bulk of the mowing.”

But, when asked about the city’s baler (an attachment for the utility tractor mower), at the regular council meeting earlier this month, Councilor Crockett said it needed to be sold as surplus equipment.

“We are not going to use it,” he claimed.

Effluent spray area & airfield

A question followed by Councilor Rod Schilling. He asked: “Are we using that baler at all, is anybody using it?”

Mayor Nelson said, “we never have.”

Schilling then followed up by asking: “It hasn’t been used by anybody, huh?”

Councilor Mack Eubanks said “I thought we were baling it down below the old sewer plant.”

Councilor Chrysta Swift, “I did too.”

Crockett then admitted: “We farmed it out last month” and there had been 200 bales at 60 pounds each, of grass cut.

Contained in Councilman Tim Crockett’s sewer report, was his second request in a row to purchase a new $8,300 dollar industrial riding lawn mower.

Lakesideinfo.com has made a public records request from city hall for the three bids for a riding lawn mower that Crockett mentioned at the July city council meeting, as well as the paper trail created when the baler was farmed out.

Crockett has already landed himself and the city in hot water on a couple of occasions in his former role as “abatement officer,” which we’ve covered.

A motion to buy was made by councilor Crockett, with a second from councilor Chrysta Swift. Councilor Elaine Armstrong, thought that they should wait for the new certified III to make recommendations on what is needed.

It was a tie vote, which means it did not pass.

Councilor’s, Armstrong, Eubanks, and Schilling voted no. The yes votes came from Swift, Crockett and Nelson. Clark Anderson was absent for the vote.

There has been no previous vote by the council to give permission to seek any bids. Also, there has not been discussion with a vote to agree to purchase a new riding lawn mower for the wastewater property in the amount of $5,000 or more.

The law and city charter specifically state what the process is. Goods and services over $5,000 by law, and Lakeside charter (chapter X, section 40.), must go out to bid.

Councilor Swift, when asked if she was bothered by the $5,000 competitive bidding law stated, “the vote might have been hasty, but she thought they had needed it badly for some time.”

She also said that now after further thought, she agreed that it “makes more sense to let the new guy make the decisions on what is needed.”

There are several questions that arise about Councilor Crockett’s desire for a new mower. He argued that the mower ($8,300 dollars worth) would be used around the air planes, along the fence of the air field, and “other places in town.”

He made no mention of where the other places might be. City recorder, Charlie Hill says law prevents its use on private property.

The only other property that needs mowing is city hall property, which is covered by public works with a small rider and a push mower.

We will keep you posted on further developments.