Times Record: “Late Project Frustrates City” January 11, 2017
Lack of transparency from Fort Smith City Mayor & Board of Directors. Why did the Mayor & Board award the 2 professional politicians, Files & Webb, with no business credibility, along with what appears to be a list of business failures, a contract for the building, maintenance and oversight (ownership) of a 3 year ongoing project to build 8 softball fields, accompanied by nonessential amenities?
Several inquiries have been made to the Board regarding the why of awarding this program to 2 professional politicians with checkerboard business backgrounds. (Search Files/Softball on arkansasfreedom.net )
The Mayor & the Board have also shown they are not competent or has this been an example of payola, e.g. Arkansas state taxpayer money (at least a million) for the nascent Marshal’s Museum (stated by Griffin & Sicard to be funded privately) compliments of State Senator Jake Files in exchange for being awarded the 8 field softball complex? The Fort Smith city government has also dumped hundreds of thousands into the Museum without a citizen vote.
To further demonstrate the Mayor & Board’s business inabilities & incompetency, here are some examples: contract extensions with no penalties, Director Mike Lorenz said there is no stated finish date. The response from some of the Directors was frightening. Director Good stated he did not know how they could pull the plug and that is exactly what must be done. Pouring more money into this collapsed venture shows an utter lack of responsible business experience & expertise also by the Mayor & City Board. It further indicates that Files & Webb are financially deficient and when Files speaks of “in kind services” and “donations” he simply means more taxpayer dollars into this mismanaged government farce.
The curtain must be drawn, the Board cuts our losses, removes Files & Webb from the scene and pursue other routes with competent individuals, corporations, etc. who are willing and able to invest, & keep grungy politicians out of the mix. The Fort Smith City Government, with all their “feel-good”, “look-good” Agenda 21 directives are proving themselves to be colossal failures.
Observe the City Government’s fiduciary failures…look no further than the circa 25 year street & sewer fiascos, resulting in double taxation—multiple $600 million x 2 !
When are the new City Manager & Chief of Police going to be publicly introduced to Fort Smith citizens accompanied by their visions for the city?
Joe McCutchen