This has been hidden from our community for at least 7 years. Without the cooperation of the Mayor, current city staff, current BOMA...this problem might well be ongoing.
The City of Spring Hill has now posted the audit report.
Spring Hill Audit Report
There are a few things VERY clear.
1. Ken York was allowed to stay at the helm far too long! If I have one major complaint with Mayor Leverette about this situation, this would have to top the list. Ken York and the prior administration were secretly setting this house of cards up, and I wish that City Hall would have been cleaned much sooner. Mr. York's opinion was considered gospel by far too many at City Hall (especially the majority on the previous BOMA) and this is the biggest reason that we now find ourselves in the hole we are in today.
2. This has been hidden from our community for at least 7 years. Without the cooperation of the Mayor, current city staff, current BOMA, and investigation by Mr. Duda and Mr. Underwood, this problem might well be ongoing.
3. Some in this city need to re-read the investigation report with open eyes because they obviously have no idea what is going on in the real world.
Take a look at the link above...
I have a clift notes version coming out very soon.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Investigative Audit Report
Posted by Gorilla in the Corner at 7:53 PM
Labels: Board of Mayor and Aldermen, City Finances
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is a series of personal opinions and is not meant to reflect an official position by the City of Spring Hill.
45 comments:
Very well said Gorilla, I just wish more people would read this thing with open eyes. If you look at the time frame of the audit and when the current administration took over, one will see that most of this took place under Mr. York, Mayor Williams, and the good ol' boy network.
Why would the Mayor request the audit if he were a part of the corruption? Wouldn't be very smart now would it?
I'm very pleased that Duda and Leverette have gotten to the bottom of all this. Unfortunately for some in this city they are so hell bent and pissed off over apartments next to their subdivision that they will never look at the report with open eyes! Heck I even read somewhere that they thought the Tennessean was in on this as a cover up! How pitiful.
Executive Summary
Transfers from Utilities to City Government
Between July 1, 2006, and October 31, 2007, city employees transferred $2,985,900 from water
and sewer funds to general government accounts, in apparent violation of state law. The
transfers, which are more correctly described as loans, were completed without the advice and
consent of the board of mayor and aldermen (BOMA) and without the approval of the Division
of Local Finance. The city’s records indicated that the money transferred was used to pay
invoices for contractors and general expenses and
to cover the city government’s payroll.
The city already had over $1 million of similar
outstanding transfers prior to July 1, 2006.
Transfers of this sort are repayable immediately.
However, the city has been allowed a five-year
repayment period.
City officials who are found to be in violation of the statute are subject to ouster.
Transfers (Loans) by Utilties to
City Government
FY 2007 $ 2,730,900
FY 2008 $ 255,000
$ 2,985,900
Prior years' total $ 1,071,387
$ 4,057,287
To the first anonymous, you would be pissed off if apartments were not only going to be built next to your neighborhood, but CONNECTED to the neighborhood as well. As far as who is to blame, it looks like the majority of the shenanigans (sp) started with the prior administration and carried on with the current administration. Being somewhat new to the area, does anyone have a good listing of who was on BOMA throughout the years? I believe there is probably some overlap between the good ole boy prior administration and the current good ole boy administration. Duda and Leverette are not saviors of Spring Hill. They are simply politicians trying to spin information in their favor.
First, living in Haynes Crossing I have my own opinions about apartments and this whole Mayor Leverette and Alderman Duda thing. I have come to appreciate Alderman Duda even though I disagree with him occasionally.
I sat their and watched a couple months before when resident after resident from Shannon Glen said that apartments needed to go out near Saturn Pkwy (IOW my neighborhood). These same Shannon Glen people sent me email after email asking me to wear red and fight the city on the apartments behind my neighborhood.
Now, you say this audit is spin, I see this audit as an attempt to fix things. IMHO, Alderman Duda and Mayor Leverette are not one in the same. Look at who exposed the financial crisis to begin with. If I follow the city site correctly, it looks like the city went to the state after Alderman Duda found the forged documents. Not the typical behavior of a self-serving politician.
Fixing something first takes knowing what is broken and then putting the policies in place to correct it.
This thing could have easily been swept under the carpet as it looks like it had been for many years.
Has anyone else wasted thier time reading Charlie S blog. I love how he rips on this blog. Anyone and everyone is allowed to voice an opinion on this blog, yet, he has to read and approve before your comment can be viewed on his blog. That is absurd and just shows his antics. Don't waste your time posting anything over there because he will not approve it. That is probably why there are only about two comments on all of his blogs, only two people agree with him.
Actually I do live in a neighborhood with apartments right next to it and don't mind one bit. They haven't lowered my property value or led to more crime like so many around here claim.
Anonymous said...
Actually I do live in a neighborhood with apartments right next to it and don't mind one bit. They haven't lowered my property value or led to more crime like so many around here claim.
11 September, 2008 14:04
There is a difference between an apartment complex next to a neighborhood and an apartment complex connected to a neighborhood. Nothing wrong with apartments, but they don't need to connect to a neighborhood.
Which if I'm not mistaken wouldn't have been the case here. From what I recall they proposed at one point to construct a berm or an emergency access only but they didn't want that either. It was all about the unsightliness of the apartments and the crime. Another poster mentioned Haynes Crossing, I don't think property values in Haynes Crossing have gone down due to the unsightliness of those apartments.
Based on the audit report, would you trust the BOMA to do the right thing? The berm would be temporary for aruond 24 hrs before it was removed. To quote national politics, you can't put lipstick on a pig.
It wouldn't be up to BOMA at that point, it would be up to Codes and we have one of the best Codes departments I've seen. Mr. Herring (I think is his name) is very good from what I hear.
Seriously folks how much longer are you going to insist that this is on the current Mayor?
From Daily Herald...
“In many cases, there is no indication that the former city administrator even made the board aware of his actions,” the 2007 audit states.
York said former mayor Williams authorized him to pursue agreements of this nature.
“I always discussed these things with the (former) mayor and then moved on from there. ... He would come back and say ‘Just do it,’” York said. “I thought the mayor had the authority to do that.”
" Quotes from the 8/6/07 Williamson Herald show Mayor Leverette and Alderman Duda singing the praises of City Manager Ken York. Enough said!!!
Mr. York brought a lot to the table for the city of Spring Hill, Mayor Danny Leverette said Tuesday. Leverette has worked alongside York since being appointed as a member of the Planning Commission in 1999. Weve all learned great things by working with him.
I think the citizens of Spring Hill should be appreciative of how hes shepherded and guided all of us, Alderman Jonathan Duda said. From 1999 to 2007 Spring Hill is a completely different city. We couldnt have done it without him.
I did recommend to BOMA that due to years of service and leadership we provide him with three months worth of pay, Mayor Leverette said. That would be approximately $20,000. "
You may not like Mr. Leverette, and you may not agree with his stance on a number of things, but here are a few things you might thank him for...
1. Bringing this to the attention of the State of Tennessee and handling the whole ordeal in an absolutely transparent way, as painful as it may have been.
2. Getting rid of Ken York (albeit too late).
3. Bringing about tremendous change in this city with regard to planning, infrastructure, design standards, etc
4. Bringing about change at City Hall...new administrator, finance director, city staff oversight.
5. Fighting for the citizens and bringing about a hospital.
6. Expanding our tax base by bringing in numerous business and food options.
7. Appointing a Planning Commission that requires business to pay for infrastucure improvements and increases building standards.
8. Bringing a focus to parks and recreation that was not here before. Increased awareness for walking trail and stream preservation.
Now...I certainly have a few disagreements with some of the mayor's positions, but it is not very hard to see the improvements brought about in a VERY short amount of time. This city is a different place than it was 3 short years ago, and for the better. Some of you must not have a very short memory if you do not remember the previous BOMA, and the BOMA before that.
Go read through the archives of this site to refresh yourselves about the dealings of this city just 3 years ago. It will open your eyes!
Anon @ 11 September, 2008 20:03
I could not agree with you more on that one. I think that Duda and Leverette went a little far in trying to usher Mr. York out on his own accord. Sometimes you get in trouble when you try to play nice. I am sure at that point, they did not know quite how deeply the corruption had made it throughout the city.
Having know Ken York myself, I think a few of the comments are true. They certainly did learn quite a bit from him (good and bad). He was exceptional at "playing the game" and manipulation.
Observer, what is your point? I can tell you pretty good certainty that the Mayor was not a big ally of York and in fact all but forced him out. I do agree that he went a little overboard trying to make it seem as if he didn't want Mr. York to retire, but my guess would be he didn't want it to come to some sort of law suit due to him having to fire him. Just a guess on that second part...
Regardless of what the Mayor and Duda said about York on his way out, that doesn't change the findings of the audit and that is that almost all of this is on York and Ray Williams.
Maybe you're just reaching at this point because the audit didn't show what you wanted it to?
I find it very interesting that the pro-Leverette side of this blog touts his leadership and proactive management style. I have attended various BOMA meetings and find that to be completely different from the truth.
Do you think we don't notice that the mayor looks directly at someone on the board just before they state a position to back him up entirely? It's also interesting to note that Duda is usually the one doing whatever it takes to back him up.
Truth be told, I believe that the mayor knew the state was in the process of investigating his administration. I have talked with various citizens from Spring Hill who were actively asking the state to look into the management of the city. Everyone knew (including city employees) that the city was basically bankrupt.
It's no surprise that Leverette could see the writing on the wall and tried to spin this to his advantage.
This administration is corrupt and should be seen as such. I do put a large part of the blame on Ken York but he was an employee of the city and reported to the mayor's office.
Lastly, I found it an extreme example of cronyism when he appointed Michael Glass to the Planning Commission. I would be interested in knowing the list of qualified candidates that were reviewed by the mayor. It's no surprise that the dog doesn't bite the hand that feeds it.
Say what you will, this report does not look good on our city and we need a new administration to move forward.
Based on this audit report or other stuff, what has this administration done that is so serious to warrant change? I haven't seen anything done to this point that warrants this. I have seen great progress in this city since he took office. Everyone has these conspiracies but noone has had any hard evidence to prove anything to this point. Keep digging people!
It is hard to imagine that since the audit stated that the former city administrator may not have informed the board of the city's creative finances, it is just exactly that. The true definition is that no evidence was found. I have a feeling that somehow, somewhere, the real truth will come out.
I compare our current King, sorry, Mayor as John Gotti, the TEFLON Don. I forgot that we must have elected Administrator York and hired Mayor Leverette. While the Mayor was the man in charge, how could all of this be going on behind his back. I really find that so very hard to believe. I thought that when electing representatives in government that they would be well versed in how government operates. I guess fairy tale rules for a fairy tale place.
The definition of a true leader is to lead by example. Sometimes that means taking responsibility for falling asleep at the wheel and not paying attention to what is IMPORTANT. Following up on budgets is IMPORTANT. Listening and appreciating the constituency is IMPORTANT. Being a LEADER who can say that "I screwed up" and not point fingers at others is IMPORTANT. However, again, fairy tale characteristics for a fairy tale place.
Let's look at the accomplishments of the Leverette regime:
a. Fighting to bring a FOR PROFIT hospital that can only serve a small sampling of the citizens with only a 56-bed facility. Has anyone seen the pipeline that needs to be built to transfer really sick patients to Centennial or will we be subject to numerous chopper flights each night to downtown. A 56-bed hospital may serve a town such a Mayberry comfortably, but it is just a mediocre facility to serve the growing population here in Spring Hill. It seems more that there is fighting to get into bed with a hospital company known to take peoples homes with aggressive collections. I guess everyone in Spring Hill utilizing the new hospital will have the best and free insurance so there are no worries about having to pay HCA timely.
b. Bringing about a Planning Commission that is appointed solely by the Mayor. Doesn't that seem to be a conflict of interest? Why aren't the planning commissioners elected. How does one wield all the power to have themselves appointed to the Planning Commission and then appoint its members? That seems pretty much an accomplishment to me; an accomplishment of stacking the chips to further a personal agenda.
c. Bringing about the tremendous change of preaching how the city has no property tax in an election and then having to go back and reinstate it. The Mayor can blame anyone he wants, but as the elected person overseeing our city, he should have known the discrepancies and should have known to not make campaign promises with his mouth that his rear could not cash.
The bottom line is that where the audit is clear and to the point in presenting the financial improprieties, it is still omitting some important facts of how our BOMA failed us citizens regardless of who anyone wants to blame. Although minimal, the BOMA gets paid to represent US and this foolishness of not knowing how to examine budgets is ludicrous.
I know that some are going to poo poo my comments and that is fine. You should go to a real blog served at actually fixing things, rather than pontificating about how great everything is. If we lived in a city that was as glorious as some make it out to be, then we would have a real hospital and real leaders and real services and real prosperity and THAT'S THE TRUTH RUTH!!!
WWW.FIXSPRINGHILLNOW.COM allows for the truth.
fixspringhillnow only allows the truth as you know it Charlie. If it were a real blog meant for people to sound off and be heard you would have posted my comment. Instead you review and decide not to post it because it isn't in line with YOUR truth.
You're just a sore loser. Heck you can't even give credit for the Mayor trying to bring a hospital to our community! By the way, your letter b. is the product of the municipal code and has nothing to do with the Mayor. Thank God you're not running our city!
I welcome you all to go read WWW.FIXSPRINGHILLNOW.COM
I would also ask you to go back...take a deep breath...and re-read your past two posts.
It does not benefit the current administration in ANY way to have government officials investigating our city. I am absolutely sure that Mayor Leverette takes no pride in having the city recieve this black eye. It does not help his chance for re-election. Re-instating a property tax does not help his re-election bid, or the ability to bring in new business.
There is not a single thread of silver lining in this current situation at city hall, but they acted in the CITY'S best interest anyway!
It is called Honesty, Integrity, and Public Service. It is called "doing the right thing."
I am sure that if you talked to Mr. Leverette privately, he would tell you that absolutely mistakes were made, but they were not made out of dishonesty. I know for a fact that there were people all over this city (including myself) trying to find the thread that would unravel the mysteries that we are all now reading about. When the right pieces were put together, the whole mess unraveled, and the newly elected BOMA, including the Mayor, did absolutely the right thing. For that reason, Mr. Leverette has earned my respect as a leader.
You talk about his lack of leadership, but tell me who in this city would invite the scrutiny and ridicule that has been served up on this? I could talk about policy disagreements all day, but you cannot say that our sitting Mayor is without honesty and integrity.
If you want to go live in your world with blinders on, I will suggest another source of information..."The Informer"
I am sure that you will get all the unbiased information you are looking for there.
11 September, 2008 21:06 and fixspringhillnow.com is not Charlie. It is a woman who is upset that Mayor Leverette voted for apartments next to her neighborhood and who used to praise the fact that we citizens were working so hard to get a hospital.
You or she (not sure which) needs to get over the apartments, the developer tried to work with Shanon Glen and they would hear nothing of it and now they will get what they get because of it. They will not lower your property value or lead to more crime. Just ask Haynes Crossing residents. It hasn't affected them one bit to my knowledge (other than a little more traffic on Port Royal).
And whoever it is running the blog needs to allow the posts that others try to post even if they don't agree with her stance. Otherwise it's worthless.
Agreed.
They say it is the TRUTH, yet they only have one side. Very manipulative if you ask me.
According to TCA 13-4-101:
The chief legislative body...may create and establish a municipal planning commission. One (1) of the members shall be the mayor of the municipality...one (1) of the members shall be a member of the chief legislative body of the municipality SELECTED BY THAT BODY...all other members shall be APPOINTED by such mayor.
AMAZING! King Mayor appoints the commission as the law determines, and he is accused by the conspirists to be "Stacking the Chips".
Gorilla,
Welcome back to the blogmire. 24 comments in 24 hours? Sounds like you were missed.
Glad you are back!
For starters, get the facts correct. I am not Charlie, will never be Charlie, don't look like Charlie, and don't live near Charlie. Consider me a new player in this game.
As for statement b. being code, a real leader would solicit and make the necessary change to make the Planning Commission inclusive of all the citizens of Spring Hill. If I were Mayor, and please do not look at this as an attempt of early campaigning, I would change the ordinances as to how the Planning Commission is made up. Perhaps if someone would take the lead and inaugurate change before, rather than during and after an audit, we would not all suffer from the black eye. It seems to be a problem here with people assuming that they know what people really want without just going out and asking.
Why should I talk to the Mayor privately? He should be upfront and explain the truth about everything. For the record, I am sure that if he were to speak to the citizens, not just he anointed ones, but all of the citizens and explain what his true feelings are, then perhaps we would not be bickering back and forth in a blog. Communication and discussing differences is TRUE leadership; not saying one thing PRIVATELY and saying the opposite PUBLICLY.
There is absolutely no silver lining in this audit, but if seems strange that where the audit was requested, the state expanded its scope on the workings of the city. I differ from some because I will not slander, nor proclaim inappropriate innuendo about the Mayor, but I still am curious about many points brought up in the audit and how no one knew what the others were doing. Perhaps I am simple and don't know the Mayor, but I do know this: I have never been spoken to by our Mayor except on one recent occasion and he has seen me close to every other day for the past few years. You may say kudos and that is all well, however, I have to believe that if you act a certain way, look a certain way, talk a certain way, and agree a certain way, then you may be blessed enough to have his attention. Unfortunately, my experiences are otherwise. I thought the role of Mayor was to embrace all of the citizenry and not a selected few. The propagation of the old boy network rises and falls with our executive leader and perhaps if he were to be more in communication in public, rather than in private, then maybe he would garner more respect.
In the meantime, I am not his 'bro, guy, or Man. I have a name and command the same respect as he does from me. Now THAT'S THE QUINTESSENTIAL TRUTH RUTH!
So are you the one running the new blog? If so, please allow everyone to post if you think communications should be so open.
Demanding the mayor to resign in public is not commanding respect.
Mr. Glass, you and your friends are starting to sound very desperate in your defense of how wonderful everyone is at city hall. It's beginning to be very transparent.
You have been told quite bluntly that if you post comments on www.fixspringhillnow.com that attack private citizens, they won't be posted. Period. That site, which is moderated by a number of people, is meant to be safe to citizens.
No one there is allowed to beat on people of the community. So no, the level of ugliness one can find here won't be found there. If that bothers you, please don't read it. But since readers here seem to know so much about it, obviously it's being read. So thanks for that. It adds to the hundreds of unique hits it's been receiving per day.
Here's another good reason to moderate comments. Someone you may just happen to know posted comments on the 'Fix' site, pretending to be an elected official of Spring Hill. That comment was pulled, and the IP address has been reported for possible fraudulent activity. Another commenter accused an alderman of drunkenness in public. That wasn't posted either, because it couldn't be verified. Later, it was proven to be false. You bet comments will continue to be monitored.
Please don't assume you know everything. Most of us don't assume that about you. There are many people in Spring Hill who share opinions that differ with the opinions expressed on your site. Many in this city are very, very unhappy with what's been brought to light in the recent days and weeks. We don't all have conspiracy theories. We don't all live near apartments. People of Spring Hill are perfectly capable of forming opinions on their own. It's a little insulting to hear you infer repeatedly that no one who disagrees with you is able to think for themselves, but you're entitled to your opinion.
In fact, please keep up the attacks here, and the hyper-defensiveness and the diversionary games. It's excessiveness indicates a desire to hide guilt. It also underscores Leverette's strange judgement to appoint you as a city official, which backs up everything else that's been indicated about his inability to make good decisions.
Regardless of differing opinions, ultimately, it will be up to those who review the supporting audit detail at the state level to make the final determination of who exactly is to blame. Mr. Dycus was clear that further investigation would need to be initiated at the district or state level. Requests have been made to that regard and are in the process of being formalized. If Mr. Leverette et al are as wonderful as you say, then super. They shouldn't mind the State's Attorney's investigation.
Kind regards.
My comment I posted over there didn't even mention anybody by name, all I stated was that the city is a City Manager Form of Government and is therefore run by the City Administrator. Tell me why that one wasn't allowed through? You can say what you want, but you refuse to post anything that disagrees with your "truth".
Keep it stirred...
Anonymous said...
You or she (not sure which) needs to get over the apartments, the developer tried to work with Shanon Glen and they would hear nothing of it and now they will get what they get because of it. They will not lower your property value or lead to more crime. Just ask Haynes Crossing residents. It hasn't affected them one bit to my knowledge (other than a little more traffic on Port Royal).
And whoever it is running the blog needs to allow the posts that others try to post even if they don't agree with her stance. Otherwise it's worthless.
_____________________
Wasn't it a current BOMA (Mr D.) that suggested to the developer that the apartments be connected to the neighborhood? Why suggest that when the developer originally wanted to connect it to Publix? Apartments aren't the issue. It's connecting them to a single family neighborhood. Comparing it to Haynes Crossing is not apples to apples.
Simple suggestion for apartment moaners and all other complainers.....move. I am, it really is not that hard.
Easy enough, right? If the city is as bad as you think it is, get out.
Wow, I visited the other website....what an agenda? Conspiracy theorists? Who has the time, energy, and anger to live such a miserable life behind a blog?
Now that is the TRUTH RUTH.
What the other website needs to bring is facts? I see a lot of opinions, but there is not one fact stated....oh well, my life moves on...
Real quick, I wish Sharon, Brandon, and Viola were around to vote for unlimited retirement benefits for city workers? How would the Legion Of Miserables feel about that one?
Dude,
They've gone wacko over at fixspringhill....
where's the abridged version you have promised?
Fixspringhill is a JOKE! They don't post any comments that don't agree with their conspiracy therories. They want to rally the citizens to hate the BOMA and vote them all out in April,and nobody is listening.
It is obvious the blogger has a huge chip on his shoulder, and should stop complaining and just move to Columbia!!
Gorilla,
Love the activity on area blogs section!! How'd you do that??
Keep up the good work and thanks for the information!!
Great Letter!!!!
LETTER TO THE EDITOR PUBLISHED IN COLUMBIA DAILY HERALD
The Mayor of Spring Hill asserted that the Bond Petition was worded to incite. What incited me was this year’s budget.
I would also like to point out that at least three former mayors and at least that many former aldermen also signed and worked for the petition, so let’s not imply that the petition was pure, petty jealously. It was, in fact, 1,300 citizens that want and deserve answers to questions about the city’s finances.
Questions like: When the city must institute property taxes and rely on loans to meet its obligations? Why does the city sponsor a radio show for $12,000 a year, or propose to spend $120,000 on a new park or to increase travel allowances by over 300 percent? How can the board justify a $1-per-hour raise to all employees? Why are part-time employees (i.e. the Board of Mayor and Aldermen) receiving full-time benefits of fully paid health insurance for themselves and their families? Why does the city propose Christmas bonuses totaling over $13,000? Why has the board not reversed its vehicle take-home policy? And the list goes on ...
But in summary, why are we as a city spending like there is no tomorrow and we don’t have enough for today?
Bruce Scotten,
To Anon @7:53
What makes you think the Fixspringhill blogger is a he? Some of the main Shannon Glen HATE'rs are women...
When you have an employee that intentionally deceives you, should his misdeeds be considered your fault?
That depends, Mayor. According to the State - yes.
Actually, I don't think the State ever blamed the Mayor for anything. It said the city needed to clean up its internal processes, and that is what appears to be happening.
At the Chamber lunch, Cindy Jobe, the only candidate for Mayor who refuses to specify why she wants it or what she wants to do, gushed with praise for the City Administrator saying how wonderful he is for the City and giving him a solid B+. Laughable. This is the same Cindy Jobe who was the ONLY person in the City to publicly praise a property tax. The same Cindy Jobe who is one of the Mayor's closest friends and was going to be his campaign manager until she stabbed him in the back. Mrs. Jobe, who (name) do you feel is ultimately responsible for the financial situation we are in?
Why don't we send Alderman Duda to Washington to solve the financial crisis.....he can solve the crisis by convincing everyone that he has all the answers and if that doesn't work he can always blame the administration in office four years ago.
I think Duda does know most of the answers...At least he has a voice, and does not sit idly around and say nothing, like some of the other alderman.
Not sure if you actually read the audit, but most of the problems started in the hands of Ray Williams . You can spin it any way you like, but it appears to me that Ray and Ken York were BFF's and Ken was given free reign.
Our current BOMA are owning up for their flaws and fixing them.
And you better get used to Duda, because he will be around for another 4 years!!
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