by Geoff Fox
Hancock Councilman Richard Strong aired some questions and concerns about town issues during the last council meeting.
During the meeting, Strong read from a prepared statement and provided a copy to The Hancock News prior to the meeting.
Strong said he had been approached by an individual with concerns about the process the town uses for putting jobs out for bid.
The town has a $15,000 ceiling for public job costs. Up to that point, no bid is required to hire a contractor to perform work. Anything with a pricetag above $15,000 is required to be put out to competitive bid.
Strong was told rumors were circulating town officials had a way to circumvent that policy.
While he didn’t say who the vendor was, Strong said he was told a vendor was told to submit two invoices for work below the $15,000 limit rather than one work invoice that would have taken the job over the bid limit.
Strong stated he had two copies of two checks that total over $26,000 for work on the splash pad.
“I would also like to say, if this is true, I don’t condone what the practice is and reinforce that the work should be bid out fairly and honestly,” Strong said.
He also submitted an information request for the last 12 months for a list of all vendors who have received payments totaling $14,999 or more.
The request includes copies of all checks, e-payments, the like and including all backup documents including, but not limited to emails, text messages, and invoices.
Sheetz plans?
Strong also mentioned he had been told the town government had given Sheetz its blessing to build a new store.
He pointed out that he had meant to ask Mayor Roland Lanehart about Sheetz.
“I would like to know who made the decision to move forward with an opinion without a discussion that included all councilmembers,” he said. “These are types of decisions we are all elected to make and it’s inappropriate to learn of such important decisions from citizens.”
Lanehart told him no decision was made with Sheetz and officials from the convenient store never contacted the town about building a new building.
Town Manager Mike Faith said he had received an email prior to the meeting from Sheetz regarding renovating the inside of the current building.
Strong said, as a town official, when people approach him, he wants to know what’s going on.
Lanehart said what Strong is hearing is just Facebook and people at his bar.
Strong is part owner of the Apple Tree Inn west of town.
Closed sessions aired
Strong said another of his concerns did, in fact, have something to do with his bar.
Town officials met last month in a closed session to discuss a situation that involved Town Manager Faith and how it would be handled by the town.
In the meeting, officials voted to suspend Faith for three weeks while a misdemeanor charge was handled in county court.
Strong said he is “thoroughly disgusted” with how that meeting and how the vote took place in closed session.
“It was my belief that anything discussed in closed session was to remain confidential,” he said.
He said it was inappropriate that someone came into the Apple Tree Inn and while drinking, told him they were disappointed with his vote.
“They told me everything I said in that meeting. Everything,” he said. Strong also said the person told them what other officials said during the meeting as well.
Strong added there was disrespect given toward Sgt. Shawn Faith and the Hancock Police Department.
“Me personally, I’m sorry for what they’ve done to you and your staff,” Strong said to Sgt. Faith.
Strong said everyone is talking about it and they’re coming to him about the situation.
“I had to get this off my chest,” he said.
Town Manager Faith said the process for any kind of construction within the town limits must get permits.
Sheetz sent Faith drawings, asking if they were approved for town center district. He’d look at the zoning ordinance, talk to the Planning Commission, and give an opinion.
Strong said in his mind, if he were to talk to John Cohill, who is on the Planning Commission, would be a conflict of what people are coming to him about because Cohill is his brother-in-law.
Lanehart said if a person comes to the town for a zoning certificate where they were tearing off their kitchen to put a new one on, it wouldn’t have to go before council for them to discuss.
Strong said he was talking about Sheetz building a new building, but Lanehart told him they weren’t doing that in Hancock.
Strong said he was just repeating what he has heard at his bar which Lanehart he’s not dealing with those people like Strong is.
Strong said when those people are telling him what was said in closed session, “that’s saying a lot to me.”
Lanehart admitted he’s been told the same thing including someone who would be willing to go under oath and repeat what was said at the closed sessions.
He told Strong that the person was in an establishment and was told exactly what was said the closed session.
“It was probably my establishment,” Strong said.
“It was and you’re the one that told him everything that went on in the closed session,” Lanehart said.
Strong said everyone who sits behind the council table has skeletons in the closet.
“I want to make sure everything’s done carefully, everything’s done properly,” Strong said.
