The purchase of two pickups without competitive bidding against Piedmont city ordinance, and a violation of the Open Meetings Act, are two findings by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector in an audit report released Tuesday.
Piedmont city council members in February of 2020 questioned the purchase of a $32,998 2019 Dodge Ram pickup that was bought on Feb. 10, 2020. On Feb. 2, 2020, a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado was purchased in the amount of $25,198.
Council members approved the request for an audit, and Piedmont’s city attorney then requested the audit from the office of CPA Cindy Byrd, State Auditor and Inspector. The audit states that that prior to the city council approving of the purchases, approval was not obtained, and competitive bids were not solicited for the two vehicles.
“Both transactions violated the City of Piedmont Code of Ordinances and the City Charter,” the state audit reports.
City Manager Jason Orr responded to the audit Wednesday.
“I have reviewed the findings from the state auditors investigation,” Orr said. “Leaders aren’t always right, but good leaders understand how to make things right. Before the report was ever released, we had already taken proactive steps and implemented corrective actions to address these concerns raised by our citizens.”
The city council approved an audit requested by the state auditor’s office.
Purchases over $10,000 in Piedmont require council approval, the audit states.
City council members on Feb. 24, 2020 approved the purchase of the Dodge Ram. The Silverado pickup was bought before the council approved, the audit states.
An independent audit showed that the purchases did not violate state bidding requirements, only City of Piedmont ordinance.
The audit states that City Manager Jason Orr had said there were two department heads who refused to drive their personal vehicles for work, and the city was in “immediate need to buy these employees vehicles to conduct city business.”
“No evidence could be provided to verify that either the Dodge Ram or the Chevrolet Silverado were competitively bid as required.”
The audit states that telephone calls the city manager made to council members regarding approval of the purchases were actions that “resulted in what appears to be an action of the council conducted outside of an official meeting, a circumvention of the Open Meetings Act.”
The audit report concludes that the purchases of the pickups should have been items on a public meeting agenda and competitively bid before being approved by the council before payments made.
“The interest of public officials, both elected and non-elected, should always be transparency, and an attitude of openness and service to the public they serve. In this instance, the requirements of purchasing and approval were clearly defined and could have been easily followed.”
The city council may address the state audit in an upcoming meeting.
Councilman Ron Cardwell, of Ward II, said some people in Piedmont did not think the audit would be completed. It would be up to the council to take any actions in response to the audit, he said.
“I am glad the audit is complete,” Cardwell said.
The city council members could vote to take action on the audit report at a future meeting.
City officials are expected to release a response to the audit.
Mayor Kurt Mayabb said he has reviewed the report.
“I have received a copy of the audit, and I am working through the options at this time. I believe that because the council called for this audit, they should be part of the next steps to come,” Mayabb said. “We will have a meeting soon to discuss the findings of the audit and what the next steps should be. The Mayor’s office is and has been about transparency and openness. We will hold the people accountable for their actions,” Mayabb said.
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