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Residents urge forensic audit, cite $115,228 contract and large legal bill
Summary
At Prairie View's special council meeting, residents called for a forensic audit after public commenters alleged a $115,228.88 water-tower contract lacked bids and raised concerns about a roughly $190,000 legal bill and unpaid water accounts by a council member.
David Allen, the first public commenter at the Prairie View City Council special meeting, urged the council to launch a forensic audit after raising several financial concerns. “The secret $115,228.88 water tower repair contract by former mayor Ron Leverett that wasn't put out for bid nor did it ever come to city council for approval,” Allen said, adding that the contract appears to be a maintenance-only agreement and that no repair work had been done.
Allen also called attention to what he described as an unusually large legal bill tied to the former city attorney and questioned why a council member who he said owed the city nearly $1,700 continued to receive a monthly stipend. “That $115,228.88 check, that's our taxpayers' money, and I'd love to see what council's gonna do about requesting a refund,” he said.
Resident Brianna Wesley framed the comments in broader terms of local stewardship, telling the council that Prairie View faces development pressure that could threaten the city's identity and urging officials to prioritize preservation and strategic planning. “This is not entertainment. This is not political theater. This is people's homes,” Wesley said.
Several council members acknowledged the substance of the comments but did not take immediate action to open an audit during the meeting. The claims about the water-tower contract and the $190,000 legal bill were presented as allegations by public commenters; no formal investigation or staff report addressing those specific claims was offered on the record at the meeting.
Why it matters: The allegations involve six-figure sums and a claim that standard procurement and council-approval steps were bypassed. If substantiated, the matters Allen raised could prompt financial recovery actions, internal controls changes, or further legal review.
What the council did next: The council proceeded with its agenda items, including votes on bank signatories, appointments, and personnel matters. Several of those items (including a resolution changing authorized signatories and the engagement of special counsel) were discussed and voted on later in the meeting.
Next steps: The transcript records the public allegations but does not include staff responses with documentary evidence, nor does it show a council directive to initiate a forensic audit. The claims therefore remain unresolved in the hearing record.
