Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Services Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission tables $85,000 authorization and broader Bricker Gradin modification after PO/signature discrepancy
Summary
Commissioners voted to table a modification to the city's agreement with outside economic-development counsel after public concerns about legal fees, reimbursements and a purchase-order signature discrepancy prompted calls for review.
The Pickwick City Commission on July 7 voted to table resolution R-81-26, which would modify the city's engagement with outside counsel Bricker Gradin for additional economic-development legal services related to the data center and related agreements.
Staff asked the commission to increase the authorized cap to cover ongoing legal services, saying the anticipated total legal-service expenditure could approach $3.5 million to $3.7 million and that most costs would be reimbursed by the project. "The anticipated total expenditure, we expect will be closer to $3.50," staff said during the presentation, noting prior reimbursements to date.
Why it was tabled: Public commenters and a local former auditor raised concerns about whether proper approvals preceded invoicing, the scale of the legal bills, and internal control weaknesses in finance. A commissioner then noted a potentially material discrepancy: two printed copies of purchase order number 0000027086 (dated 03/06/2025) showed different electronic signatures — one with the former finance director's signature and one printed with the newly installed interim finance director's signature. The discrepancy prompted a motion to table while staff investigates.
Public concerns: Veil Larson, a local auditor, laid out serious internal-control worries and urged the commission to use oversight powers to investigate financial processes and purchase-order handling. Steve Yenny and others questioned the timing of reimbursements and whether the commission had effectively authorized expenditures before some work was performed.
Commission action: A commissioner moved to table R-81-26 pending clarification of the PO/signature issue and related billing questions; the motion carried. The commission also discussed returning to the remainder of the agenda on July 21.
What to watch: Staff and finance officials said they will examine the PO and electronic-signature history and bring clarified documentation back to the commission. Residents asked for transparent accounting of legal costs and for clear lines of accountability on reimbursements.
