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Residents press council on city gift‑card distributions and unpaid small‑business contracts
Summary
During non‑agenda public comment, residents raised concerns over the city's handling of previously purchased gift cards and unpaid contracts with small businesses. Speakers said gift cards purchased in 2022 are losing value and that small contractors have not been reimbursed; they urged council follow‑up.
Several residents used the public‑comment portion of the Oct. 28 meeting to press council for action on outstanding matters involving city gift cards and unpaid small‑business contracts.
Leon Hammonds described a sequence of distributions for cards the city purchased in April 2022 and said the cards have lost value because of monthly fees after the thirteenth month; he reported differing figures for remaining card balances and questioned a reported $18,850 distribution cost. Hammonds asked the council to address what he called delays in distribution.
Donna Biggs and William ("Bink") Richardson told council they had experienced delays and inconsistent follow‑up by city staff on contractual payments and voluntary cleanup work. Richardson, owner of Richardson Top of the Line Tree Service, said he performed unpaid work and sought informal meetings with staff and previous managers to resolve reimbursement; he said he had not retained legal counsel and wished to resolve the issue administratively.
David House raised concerns about code enforcement and blighted properties at Harding and Progress Avenue, saying promised follow‑up from city staff had not occurred in the time frames he was given.
Mayor Glover and council members acknowledged the comments and reminded speakers that staff report and follow‑up would be handled through the city manager’s office; council instructed staff to take the concerns back to the appropriate departments for follow up.
