The King is dead, long live the King. The Madison County Journal reported that Madison County engineer Rudy Warnock landed on his feet at Canton Municipal Utilities after he was fired as county engineer by the Madison County Board of Supervisors:
former County Engineer Rudy Warnock was hired by the CMU board on Aug. 16 to replace their engineer on the sludge removal contract and this week to be CMU’s sole engineering firm.
Silbrina Wright, who up until Tuesday was chairman of the CMU Board, is awaiting word on whether or not she will still have a seat at the table.
On Aug. 23, the Canton Mayor and Board of Aldermen held a special meeting and removed her from the post in a 5-1 vote claiming she wasn’t eligible to be a Commissioner.
The meeting was called by Ward 3 Alderman Les Penn and Ward 7 Alderman Andrew Grant, with Ward 2 Alderwoman Olivia Harrell the lone no vote. Ward 4 Alderwoman Daphne Sims was not present.
Mayor Arnel Bolden has 15 days to veto the action, a decision he is still considering.
“At this point, I have not fully decided on whether or not I’m going to veto yet,” Bolden said.
Meanwhile, Wright says she is ready to fight the matter in court.
According to Wright, the city says she doesn’t live in the area so she can’t serve on the board.
She denies that allegation, saying her homestead is 212 Rebecca Dr. in Canton.
“I vote in Canton, Mississippi,” she said. “My kids attend Canton Public Schools and my husband and I pay property taxes in Canton.”
Wright then supplied emails of correspondence back in September 2015, when the city board attempted to oust her from CMU for residency issues. She said that was settled and this second go-around is because she didn’t “follow orders.”
SLUDGE CONTRACT
Earlier this summer, CMU asked for request for proposals (RFP) for a sludge removal contract done in conjunction with the Madison County Wastewater Authority.
Three companies submitted bids, with the lowest being Denali. The second highest was UCI-LAA, a collaboration Wright says is between Claude Banks, son of former District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks, and contractor Terry Lovelace.
CMU initially voted to enter into negotiations with the top two low bidders, according to Wright. UCI-LAA, however, contends that they were awarded the contract outright, pending negotiations.
The Journal has been unable to obtain the minutes of the July 19 meeting where this action occurred.
After negotiations, Waggoner Engineering, Inc., the engineering firm representing CMU for the sludge removal contract, sent CMU a letter on Aug. 2 outlining the new scores.
Denali remained the lowest bidder at $786,885, with a 90.5 average rating score. UCI-LAA had a bid of $889,000 with an 85.8 average rating score after dropping the original cost down from $918,500. Synagro had a bid of $935,000 with a 74.5 average rating score.
On July 29, John Brunini wrote a letter to CMU as counsel for the Madison County Wastewater Authority asking for scoring sheets and why CMU opted to go with a more expensive vendor.
On Aug. 4, UCI-LAA made another proffer to lower their bid to $781,400 — cheaper than Denali — but that CEO Brian Finnegan was not available for that negotiation, according to a letter from attorney Mike Espy on behalf of UCI-LAA. Espy said the cheaper price was given to Larry Fedducia, deputy general manager of CMU.
Wright said on Aug. 5, CMU then awarded the contract in a 3-0 vote to Denali. According to Espy, Finnegan gave the CMU Board the first proffer and not the second proffer, which was nearly $6,000 less than Denali.
John Noble, Charles Weems, and Wright voted to award the contract. Cleveland Anderson and Lanny Slaughter abstained from the vote.
Wright says it was after that vote she began to receive harassing and threatening phone calls from individuals in Canton in order to collude and give UCI-LAA the contract.
On Aug. 15, the day before a regularly-scheduled CMU board meeting, Wright says she received a call from someone saying “if I did not vote or allow them to vote for reconsideration I was gonna get kicked off the board.”
Wright says she has recordings of phone conversations with these unidentified individuals.
On Aug. 16, Wright says Noble made a motion to reconsider giving UCI the contract but it died for lack of a second.
Then, on Aug. 23, she was replaced on the board by former Commissioner Cleotha Williams.
Wright said that because the mayor has veto option, the action was not immediate.
“In the mean time, I’m still on the board,” she said. And on Tuesday, she resigned as chair of the board while awaiting the verdict.
As far as the contract with Denali, Wright said it has been given to Finnegan for execution but has not been.
“The board members have told Brian he cannot enter into the contract yet,” Wright said.
A special called meeting was set for 9:30 a.m. this past Friday but pushed back to 10:30 a.m. after proper notice wasn’t given. Then, a quorum was not present so the meeting was pushed to Tuesday, Aug. 30.
When asked to respond to the allegations made by Wright towards UCI-LAA, Espy issued a statement.
“On behalf of UCI, LLC, I submitted a FOIA request to CMU for all related Minutes, all audio recordings and RFP evaluation scoresheets in order to determine what really happened in this matter. To date, I have received nothing except a letter from CMU stating that the Denali vendor was selected, according to law. But serious questions remain.”
ENGINEERING
Warnock was hired by the CMU board on Aug. 16 to replace Waggoner on the sludge removal contract, Wright explained.
She said at the time CMU had professional service agreements with four different engineering firms.
On Tuesday of this week, CMU voted 3-1 to make Warnock CMU’s engineer, Wright said. She voted against and said Noble was absent.
“In making him the CMU engineer, all engineering projects went to Rudy,” she said. “Everything that’s related to engineering went to Rudy.
“We don’t know what it’s gonna cost us,” she continued. “We don’t know what is the scope of work, procedures or process in place. Who he would answer to.” Rest of article
Kingfish note: Silbring Wright? Where have we heard that name before? Oh yes, she was the whistleblower in Tim Johnson's bogus bingo. What is interesting is seeing Canton Mayor Arnel Bolden get completely outmanuevered. He beat these people three years ago. However, it was apparently all for naught. CMU is the big moneymaker in Canton and is considered the crown jewel by every political faction. Mayor Bolden kicked out the Blackmon cronies but it appears another group has kicked his group out as well. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
The Return of the Warnock
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
47 comments:
Rudy is not The King. Tim Johnson is The King. Rudy is just The Treasurer. He's in charge of the Christmas List. In that regard, he plays Santa Claus. You would not believe the number of Elves and their names.
The application file for Elves is huge and includes over half the current County and City Employees, a long list of contractors and service providers, lawyers, and a double handful of politicians. The screening and initiation processes are interesting and rigorous.
Stay Tuned.....
Elvis is in the building with Rudy, check it out
Stay tuned to see if some Banks family members and in-laws land good paying jobs at CMU now.
I hear CMU has a pretty big bank balance. Rudy's eyes must be bigger than saucers. Give him 3-5 years and he will take it all. Why is Les Penn a part of this?
I heard about this story...Can't the people of Canton see were this is going? Why do Rudy and Karl Banks continue too get away with theft? Will it ever stop?
The people of Canton don't want this!!!
Those folks bought and paid for should be ashamed of themselves!!
I hope this all comes back on all of them and soon !
Why aren't the City of Canton citizens speaking up !??
Maybe they don't have a voice. Afraid of what will happen to them or because they simply don't have leadership. The news outlets are not covering anything except for the journal...it's sad. Rudy get richer and pays off the blacks. This is the most disguising situation I have ever seen.
The CMU board is appointed. Les Penn is involved because he is an elected official on the Canton board of aldermen. The majority of the people of Canton think Karl Banks hung the moon and can do no wrong. Banks doesnt even live in Canton. Banks lives out at Lake Caroline but he probably pays CMU for water and sewage out there.
people in canton dont think Karl hung the moon. they afraid karl will hang them if they speak up. power and money will put fear in the people
Les Penn is an elected official on the Canton Board of Alderman. Correct.
But as such, he voted to approve the new members of the board that took the action - to bring Rudy in as engineer, to fire the existing manager, to remove a member of the board to bring on a new one insuring the majority.
Very disappointed in Les. Thought a lot more of him when he was part of the 'new leadership' in Canton. Would like to hear his explanation for this idiotic move, giving away the cash cow of CMU to Rudy, Elvis, and Banks.
What reason do people have to be afraid of Karl Banks ??
Is he that bad??
Should the FEDS be looking at him??
Bad? Or crooked? Or in the pockets with Rudy, Elvis, and his family? If you don't mind your tax dollars being wasted and stolen, county business being corrupt, and a few of your elected and appointed officials becoming very rich from your pockets, then there is nothing to be afraid of. Sleep well.
In the 3-1 vote to name Rudy the CMU engineer the motion was made by Charles Weems who apparently teamed with Slaughter and Anderson to make this happen. Then at the special called meeting Penn makes the motion to replace Wright on the board, opening the door wide open to add Williams to the board. Why? Why did Les seemingly align himself with Eric Gilkey, Andrew Grant, Rodriqueiz Brown (nephew of Ike Brown) and former Canton Police Chief Vicki McNeil to create a new power faction on the board? What you do not mention was that the first order of business for the new board was to fire general manager Finnegan, the staff attorney and outside counsel, Lisa Ross. They replaced Ross with Mike Espy, the attorney for UCI-LAA. Finnegan and the staff attorney have been reinstated on advice from the new Board Attorney. Now they have taken everyone's computer and cell phone, doing their best to run everyone out of town. Are Les and Charles now on a new payroll? Les and Charles have pissed off a lot of people in Canton. Great job by the Madison County Journal to cover this mess.
And CMU board member John Noble (he is also a Madison County Building Inspector) is caught on audiotape saying that Karl Banks agreed to give the city $50,000 to pave streets if CMU would award the sludge bid to Terry Lovelace and Claude Banks. And Noble was all for it. It's all in the Madison County Journal. Charles Weems and John Noble will sell their souls to stay on the CMU board because of the pay and health insurance.
You get health insurance by being an appointed member of a board? If Noble is a Madison County Inspector, wouldn't he already have health insurance?
Noble is a part time county building inspector who made $115,000 last year from the county. I would love to have that part time job! A major benefit for being on the CMU board is the health insurance, especially when you are self employed like Weems and Nobles.
8:31 AM; depends unless he gets a 1099 from the county for providing inspection services
Does Warnock even have a staff??
Is anyone there an licensed Engineer?
Doesn't CMU realize he will bill the **** out of that Millions of $$ and never design the first plan.
Bet he recommends his Vicksburg buddies for the work too..
Geesh..
At the city level, it sure seems like Les Penn and all of them are bought and paid for...
This totally smells of slick corruption and good old EVIL boys club!
Karma is.................
CMU has always been a shady cash cow. The folks doing the milking are now different and they will use a milking machine.
Nobody here care to take a closer gander at Lovelace in all of this? He IS the funding source once contracts are awarded. You nail him, you take them all down. He's spread out all over right now, especially at Lost Rabbit.
CMU board members get health insurance and pay of around $1000-$1500 per month (not sure of exact figure)
Les also made the motion to replace Wright with Cleotha Williams who was apart of the old board that the new mayor board administration ousted. Les has voted to pay Rudy for work that has not been done yet. Which is a change in mind from a year ago. Micheal Simmons from the Journal report that Old invoices from the Blackmon Firm are being considered and a lawsuit with former board member cheeks who has since pass away. CMU will be bankrupt in a year's time.
What about that insurance woman in Starkville who, thanks to Elvis, had the county's health insurance plan wrapped up for a number of years? She got axed by the current board. Will she surface again now in Madison County? Seems Elvis still has that hunka hunka thang goin' on.
And some of you people thought Tony Yarber had a circle of friends.
"Les has voted to pay Rudy for work that has not been done yet. "
Are you serious?
bought and paid for - Check
Well back in May Kingfish reported that UCI-LAA principals being the banks,Lovelace and Mike Espy as attorney;bidded for the contract in Jackson for sludge removal. Now they are trying their shit handling in Canton. It must be noted that Karl Banks has help many families who could not afford to pay for burial of there love ones and an anonymous donor by the name of Rudy Warnock would take up the bill changing a 2,000 funeral to a 25,000.00 funeral paid with cash.
Les has plenty of money why would he need Rudy's? I am just saying the Penns are wealthy.
Being a Penn doesn't make you rich or have money. In Les's case it may be just the opposite. Les's claim to riches may be through his wife whose father is Dr. Ford Terry. He probably needs his $25,000 a year job on the Canton board of alderman more than most, which makes it all the more amazing that he voted the way he did. Unless Rudy steps in this may not end well for Penn during next years election.
Les got elected three plus years ago with the help and support of many folks in Canton (including myself) that thought he would be part of the group to bring honesty and integrity to the City Hall - a major change from when the Blackmons controlled everything and Dr. Truly was their tool.
Looks like Les has moved over to the cash cow - the same one that has bought and paid for the third supervisor on the Madison County Board for the past 15 years.
I don't know about all the others that spent time, money and effort supporting Les and his commitment to work for change and honesty in Canton, but based on what he has done here, I will be looking to find - and help - someone to beat his ass.
So Les doesn't have to worry about Banks or anyone else getting rid of him..
Can someone explain WHY some people are afraid of Karl Banks???
So sorry for Brian Finnegan. I've known and worked with Brian in the utility business for years. A truly seasoned utility professional with impeccable integrity. He won't hang around long if this fraud continues.
I have a question for the Canton readers: Is there ANYONE in Canton that has the balls to call up Weems and Penn and tell them that this flagrant corruption is obvious to everyone and will not be tolerated?? How can these guys walk down the street and look people in the eye??
This whole thing just drips with Evil. Fire an honest, professional vendor like Waggoner Engineering and replace them with a notorious crook like Warnock!!! Fire the CEO and line up a notorious crook like Tim Johnson for that position!!! Tim Johnson, Karl Banks, Mike Espy, and Warnock team gang-banged Madison County for years. Their organized crime syndicate was finally overpowered and thrown out in the last election. It didn't take them long to regroup and bribe their way into getting their filthy hands on another cash cow. They will suck all the money and life out of the Canton CMU and leave an empty shell after a few years.
It is unfortunate but most of the citizens in Canton don't really care what is taking place. Most of the people living in the community are living at or below the poverty line. They feel like it is the government's obligation to take care of them, so as long as they get their monthly check they are okay. In Les's ward people are a little more educated and intelligent, but who wants to serve on a board where the majority of it's members are more content with taking care of their friends and family than they are the citizens of Canton. Olivia Harrell is about the only voice of reason and I understand she can't wait to get off the board because she is tired of all the crap. Les is claiming that the reason he made the motion to replace Wright was that he was promised John Noble would be reappointed to the CMU board for another term, but that didn't work out and Les knew that when he voted to override the Mayor's veto and allow Wright to be replaced on the board.
8:40 PM
Warwick was audited by the State Auditor and he under bid - no evidence of being a crook.
DA under Mary looked up his skirt for years and nothing on Rudy.
How can you call him a crook?
What has Rudy done that is illegal?
Answer that question.
Les runs the family trucking business. His wife is an attorney. So I doubt the good doctor and his wife, the Bryan meat heiress, are porting any funds their way. They may be, who knows.
I live in Les' ward and can tell you that myself and most everyone else in his ward are not happy with him, Noble or Weems. They have let a Babyruth loose int he pool!! Weems was a canton alderman long enough to get a full state retirement out of it. As you can see, Les is learning from a veteran.
You lay and play with dogs you will get fleas........
Good questions, Rudy. You will be notified sooner than you think. Just answer the door when the time comes.
hey 5:03 - just because his bill rates were "approved" by the audit doesn't mean he wasn't ripping off the taxpayers of Madison County. He would do totally bogus work and Karl, Tim, Paul, JBC would push through every project he said was necessary. And during campaign time, they would create useless "studies" for him to do so that he could bill the county for more useless work so that he had extra cash to fund their campaigns.
Again - just because the "per hour rate" or whatever it was the auditor looked at seemed appropriate doesn't mean they weren't taking the taxpayers for every dime they could get!!!
I have lived in Canton most of my life and to see what is going on is truly heartbreaking. All they want to do is "line their pockets". How is the world can Charles Weems, John Noble and Les Penn like what they see in the mirror every morning. Yes, Noble and Weems are "rolling over for health insurance" as they are self-employed. I really thought better of Les Penn. They are willing to give up their integrity, their reputation, and the betterment of Canton to lay with these "DOGS". Shame on them, shame on all of them!
It's amazing how everyone became so interested with CMU when Rudy got involved. 3 1/2 years ago when the new mayor & board of aldermen came in, they were able to remove the Blackmons from CMU & the city. Where was everyone's anger then? The Blackmons make Rudy look like a little boy with what they did. People are getting so upset with Les Penn because he voted to remove someone who doesn't live in the city. He presented documented proof at the meeting. It's really hilarious to hear some of y'all's comments about how the white people in canton have any say in what goes on! The board of alderman is 5 black, 2 white. The CMU commissioners are 3 black, 2 white.... When y'all can inform me on how that math will ever work out let me know. Until then I know Les Penn would be very happy to give anyone the whole story if you would like to contact him.
@ 1:07pm let's just say you are Les Penn. Is the whole story the same as the one the journal printed with voice recording of John making illegal trade off with a bidding contractor who happens to be in the Karl Banks and family? Then your vote to replace Wright gave the Blackmon crew the check book to share with Warnock. As soon as Mr. Williams got on the board they voted to fire legal counsel put Mike in and pay back invoices to the Blackmon Firm. So now Les you deal with the whole story. We are Cantonian and we are not stupid. This is not a black and white issue this is a right and wrong issue and Les Penn is wrong...My question is why did Les do what he did?
Actually this website showed what the blackmons were making off of canton a few years ago.
I happen to know Les and we have some of the same circle of friends. I will say that he and his wife have been confronted and he is not a happy camper right now. His ward has called him to the table and he has been read the rights. And I am sure he will do things differently but it a little to late.
With Banks and Warnock involved, nothing good will come of it.
Every dog has their day and one of these days, these "good ole Canton boys" will have theirs too.....remember you reap what you sow. How can they have the nerve, the guts, the audacity to do what they have done to their hometown. But of course, once they line their pockets, they'll be able to leave and leave they should!
3:55, you contradict yourself. Once you 'line your pockets and leave', you ain't 'reapin what you sowed'.
Where is Sidney Runnels when we need him? He was run out of town due to a lifestyle but he was not a crook or a scoundrel.
Are the people of Canton spineless and afraid to stand up for what is right??
Once entrenched, the Warnock crime syndicate with Banks, Espy, and Tim Johnson will have Canton so tight in their grip that no one will be able to do anything.
Post a Comment