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Public commenter accuses finance director and event contractor; council cuts exchange short
Summary
During public comment, Brady Preheim accused the finance director of setting up the city’s event contractor to fail and disputed testimony about event equipment; the presiding officer interrupted and warned the speaker, calling the interchange disruptive.
Brady Preheim used the public comment period at the Dec. 17 St. Helens City Council meeting to press the council to remove an agenda item and to air allegations about city finances and event operations.
Preheim told the council that “CET is done. They will be dissolved January 15,” urged removal of an agenda memorandum tied to CET, and accused the city finance director of proposing income and budget figures that he said set a contractor, Treadway Events and Entertainment LLC, "up to fail." He also disputed earlier testimony about an event train’s gas tank capacity, saying he personally filled it with two 5-gallon cans and that it had operated for multiple Halloweentown events.
The presiding officer and several council members pushed back, with the presiding officer saying the comment period was not the time for debate and warning the speaker that continued disruption could result in removal. The presiding officer also stated, on the record, that they disagreed with the characterization of the finance director. The exchange became heated and was curtailed by the presiding officer to restore order.
The transcript records these claims and the council’s immediate verbal responses but does not include documentary evidence supporting Preheim’s assertions, nor did the council convene a formal inquiry at the meeting. The presiding officer said any needed responses to visitor comments would be published in the next council packet.
The council then proceeded with the agenda, including a later motion to extend the event contractor’s agreement, which councilors approved.
Because the allegations concern personnel and contract performance, verification would require follow-up documents and statements from the finance director, city staff, or the contractor; those were not provided in the meeting record.
