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Residents press council on audits, chemical odors and unpaid decal fees during public comment
Summary
During the communications-from-citizens period, residents raised concerns about audit irregularities, a recent pungent chemical odor and a three-year decal-fee issue; council and staff pledged follow-up on investigations, FOIA guidance and possible air monitoring grants.
Several residents used the city's public-comment period to press council on governance and public-safety concerns.
Ed Hauser (Ward 5) said he was concerned about audits and alleged unaccountable funds and asked where warrants were issued; he also referenced personnel recruitment and prior city-manager actions. "One of my concerns was is supposedly these audits, fraud was found. Where were the warrants from?" he said.
Rick Davis (Ward 1) described a strong, pungent odor that he and neighbors experienced after a weekend incident and said some people became sick. He asked for more transparency about on-site chemicals and noted that by state Freedom of Information law he expects records about chemicals on site: "We just like to have a little transparency, a little bit of... what's going on." Council and staff said they are exploring federal grant money for additional air monitoring devices in affected neighborhoods.
Mark Greenwood (Citizens Oversight Committee) reported on an April 30 oversight meeting and said auditors had raised concerns about internal controls; he said he would consult a retired federal prosecutor and urged council attention. Mark Burrows (Ward 3) called for civility in public discourse and said he does not condone hate speech.
Darlene Thompson (Ward 6) raised a constituent complaint about vehicle decals that residents have been charged for but not received, asking why the city continues to collect the fee and requesting follow-up; staff asked city manager and staff to provide an update.
Council asked staff to follow up on the decal issue and to explore air-monitoring grants; no formal actions were taken during the public-comment period.
