Location of previous lawnmower allegedly subject of criminal investigation
The city of Cumby will purchase a lawnmower, according to a unanimous decision by the city council at their regular August meeting.
In May, Mayor Doug Simmerman presented to the council that the city’s contract with Mike’s Lawn Service was coming to an end, and as such, the city would be left without mowing services.
However, in July Simmerman updated the council that the city contract with the mowers must continue until August 25.
During the July council meeting, council members explored quotes for pricing from local tractor supply companies, but resolved they needed more quotes for larger mowers, insurance and warranties and tabled the issue.
During August the council resolved to pay $14,000 for a 72-inch diesel mower.
Council member Guy Butler inquired how the financing for the mower would be handled.
“I do know that last time when they tried to purchase a mower they were wanting the mayor’s signature as far as securing the credit, personal,” Simmerman stated. “I don’t know that I’d want to do that as far as being reliable for the debt.”
“I don’t see one person handling all the mowing,” council member Julie Morris stated. However, the council agreed that buying two mowers off the bat was not financially wise.
“Maybe this will finish us out for the year and then we can look at purchasing another mower in spring when the mowing season gets cranked back up,” Simmerman said.
There was some debate from citizens regarding the location of the city’s previous mower.
At the July council meeting, citizen Kyle Pettit asked, “What happened to the mowers we did have?” Simmerman instructed Pettit it was “disposed of before my [Simmerman’s] time.”
In August, citizen Ryan Horne inquired again about the location of the older mower.
“I know we had some questions about where the last lawn mower went,” Horne said. “Or where it went, or who took it, or who was in charge of it. Are there steps in place to make sure that doesn’t happen?”
Simmerman told Horne that was “probably the forensic audit,” referencing the city’s recent audit which they had unanimously taken action for Simmerman to hand over to Texas Ranger John Vance during a July 28 special meeting. The council did not discuss what the audit contained, although Simmerman now seemed to imply the allegedly missing mower was related to the forensic audit. The council did not state by what date Simmerman will deliver the audit to law enforcement.
“I’m sure it’ll be investigated,” Simmerman stated. “We’ve got some things put in place right now. Everything is inventoried, we take pictures of it and put it in a file in the computer so that we’ll be able to track it.”
With no further discussion, the mower purchase was verified by the council.