Landscape Architect Articles

Landscaping Setup Criticized12-23-08 | News

Landscaping Setup Criticized

Mississippi state auditors are criticizing the landscape maintenance practices of a County Courthouse. The report cites no bidding process and salary going $200 over the $5,000 budget.

State auditors don?EUR??,,????'?????<

According to the state auditor?EUR??,,????'?????<

It was listed among the findings in the report because bids were not solicited for the job and compensation exceeded $5,000.

Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said commissioners have tried several other options for yard maintenance at the courthouse over the years since the new courthouse was built.

Commissioners first tried bidding out the job but got complaints on how the courthouse yard looked.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

Commissioners also tried having the road and bridge personnel and prisoners from the Southeast Correctional Center maintain the yard after considering their work at the Oak Grove Cemetery satisfactory. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Lucas said there was no discrimination in selecting DeLay for the job other than picking someone who really wanted to do the best job they could regardless of what they were being paid.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

Lucas said under DeLay?EUR??,,????'?????<

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The audit report also criticized commissioners for paying DeLay $998 per year for serving as secretary for the Johnson Grass Board and $3,992 per year for serving as secretary for the road and bridge department.

Blumenberg said DeLay has been doing these jobs since before he was first elected to serve on the county commission.

He said since these jobs only consist of a few hours per week at most, it is hard to find someone else to fill them.

Source: Southeast Missourian