On Tuesday night, four members of the Pine Bluff City Council voted to approve paying financial consultants George Stepps and William Moss for an additional 162 hours they said they worked on the city’s finances without prior approval from the City Council.
The council had previously approved the two working 100 hours at a rate of $150 per hour, then approved a second 100 hour request at the same rate.
Voting to pay the money were council members Steven Mays, Ivan Whitfield, Bruce Lockett and Glen Brown Sr.,
The four other members of the council, Lloyd Holcomb Jr. Glen Brown Jr., Joni Alexander and Steven Shaner voted no, as did Mayor Shirley Washington.
On Wednesday, Alexander appeared on the Oldies 101.3 morning show and was asked about the vote.
Alexander said contrary to popular belief, the bid by Stepps and Moss was not the lowest bid. The lowest bid was $75 per hour but that company could not get the work done in time.
On another subject, Alexander was asked about the city taking over the Harbor Oaks golf course which had been leased to Mike Wilson. She said when Harbor Oaks was hit with the significant flood, Wilson did not have insurance on the building and could not recover.
The city is planning to spend up to $600,000 to renovate the golf course and restaurant property, then find someone to run it.
