Pine Bluff Cracks Down On Credit Cards

Pine Bluff Mayor Dutch King says no one knows how many city employees are carrying city credit cards, but he wants to find out. He is directing department heads to maintain records of credit card purchases and submit reports on the cards` usage monthly. King`s memo followed revelations that Rickey Parks, director of the city`s Parks and Recreation Department, used a city credit card to pay for personal expenses. The Parks and Recreation Commission ordered Parks to resign or be terminated in early September, but he refused. Parks, who acknowledged using the cards for personal expenses, said he repaid all the personal charges. When he refused to resign, all four members of the parks commission eventually resigned instead. A new commission rescinded Parks` termination and is conducting its own investigation of Parks Department expenses. Posted by Mike Hellgren