Transparency in regards to the Lee County Commission's handling of millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act federal funds was a hot topic at their meeting held on October 10th of 2023. Opelika resident Virginia Graham got the ball rolling during the citizen comments section when she stated as follows;
"I am a concerned citizen of Lee County. I remember when the county was allocating these millions of dollars and it was supposed to have been for small businesses, churches and things of that nature. I have been coming to these meetings quite often. I spoke with my cousin today and she told me that Ms. Holly had called her finally. She had promised to get these letters to me way before now but I haven't heard anything 'We are gonna send this to you, we are going to get this to you' but we didn't get anything. My concern is she said that it didn't meet the requirement, the guidelines but at the time they didn't say that was a guideline. Whatever they needed at that time, the secretary of the church sent those papers to them and they got everything that they asked for. They mailed them to them, they sent them to them. But now they are saying that they are going to have to wait, they don't know what they are going to be able to do. So I am concerned about what really happened."
Lee County Administrator Holly Leverette responded directly to Ms. Graham, remarking that she had recently been advised by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama program known as "Investing in Alabama Counties" in regards to how to address concerns such as Graham's. According to the official ACCA website, through the IAC program "participating counties can publish solicitations for goods, services, and grant funding related to the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funds." Leverette's response was as follows;
"I spoke with Kate with the IAC this week and her recommendation was for us to not send out any letters at this point because you all have not decided yet how we are going to spend that money. So until the commission decides how that money is going to be spent and whether or not we spend it on community groups, it was in my best interest not to send out any letters of denial. I called Ms. Jackson today to explain that."
Opelika resident Lance Farrar spoke next and addressed Leverette's response to Graham as follows;
"Ms. Virginia Graham made a great point about the ARPA monies and where they are going. Ms. Holly Leverette, the county manager, made a point that they had not determined where that money was going to be spent. I have a quick question for clarity. You have all read the county packet, I know you have, because you are about to vote on the consent agenda this evening. On page 16 of 73 on today's packet Gamble Winter Construction, LLC is going to be paid $172, 216.03 from the highway complex construction, this is payment number seven. Where does that money come from, is that from the county or is that from the ARPA money? Ms. Holly Leverette?"
As one might expect the silence was deafening from Leverette who refused to respond to Farrar, staring away stoically as he followed up;
"Madam, did you not understand the question? Are you refusing to answer me? Is that discrimination? You will answer her questions but not my questions?"
At this point Chairman Bill English began talking over Farrar in an attempt to assert his authority and control the narrative;
"Mr. Farrar, as you know this is not a question and answer session. It is a time for you to present your comments to the commission. Please address your comments to the commission, not to the staff."
Farrar sardonically responded to English before turning his attention to Commissioner Tony Langley;
"Bill, when I am talking to you, you will know it. Tony, ask my county manager where this $172, 216.03 is coming from? Do that now, Tony."
Langley tried hard to sound like an alpha male by responding;
"You don't tell me what to do."
Following Langley's performative theatrics, Farrar attempted to request clarification on Revenue Commissioner Oline Price's supernumerary retirement payments at which point English abruptly cut off Farrar, shutting down citizen comments with a hasty commencement of the Pledge of Allegiance and a jarring start to the regular meeting. Later on after the end of the regular meeting there was a subsequent budget work session where the commissioners aired their concerns over fuzzy numbers in Leverette's accounting having shifted since their last meeting. Reminiscent of the Shakespearean theme where the lady doth protest too much, Leverette let slip her insecurities by becoming defensive and throwing previous county administrator Roger Rendleman under the bus when stating;
"They change every year. The difference is, I'm transparent and I am showing you the changes. Where, I am just going to be honest, my predecessor wasn't as transparent with you as to how he handled the numbers. You are seeing everything I see, I want you to see everything I see."
As those words left Leverette's lips, Lee County Emergency Management Agency Director Rita Smith just so happened to turn around behind where she sat and whispered to a fellow county employee "That is a lie". If Leverette believes so adamantly that she is beyond transparent to the point that perhaps she should be known as the invisible woman, apparently Director Smith is not buying it.
Leverette then completely contradicted her own professed lack of knowledge regarding allocations of ARPA funds during the regular meeting when discussing exactly how the commission had decided to spend a considerable portion of it by stating;
"That's ARPA money, so that's got to be spent first. So right now, what we've been doing is pulling money from ARPA first. So as we get an invoice from them, we pay it directly out of the resources you have already allocated for that project. So that money will come out before we touch any of the designated money for highway and the same with the justice center project."
Transparency and accountability are two key areas where the LCC struggles mightily, however, the Examiner prioritizes preparedness next to Godliness and has access to a video recording of the aforementioned conversations from the meetings. Although these segments are conspicuously absent from the official livestream, you can watch them here by clicking on the video below.
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