Update: Huttig Mayor Found in Violation of State's Code of Conduct
By: KTVE
Updated: December 12, 2012
Update (December 12):
The mayor of Huttig (Union County) has been found in violation of the state's code of conduct.
The Arkansas Ethics Commission (AEC) says Mayor Tony Cole shouldn't have allowed a city employee to do work on his private property without reimbursing the city for the expenses.
However, the AEC says there will be no penalty against the city because there was no written policy established before the violation.
The commission was asked to look into the case three months ago.
It's advising Huttig to establish a policy regarding city employees working on private property using city equipment.
A penalty against the city could have cost between $500 and $2,000 in fines.
Original story (September 27):
A mayor in Union County is the focus of an investigation by the Arkansas Ethics Commission (AEC).
A Huttig citizen complained about workers using city equipment and time to clean up Mayor Tony Cole's private property.
The owners of the Knight's Convenience Store in Huttig have also filed a complaint about the mayor with the AEC.
"The employees that are employed by the city have always used the equipment as long as they were doing something to help the community and not making a financial gain off of it," Mayor Cole said.
Meanwhile Knight Convenience Store argues that tax dollars shouldn't be used on the mayor's private property.
If Cole is found guilty, he could face a fine of up to $2,000.
The mayor of Huttig (Union County) has been found in violation of the state's code of conduct.
The Arkansas Ethics Commission (AEC) says Mayor Tony Cole shouldn't have allowed a city employee to do work on his private property without reimbursing the city for the expenses.
However, the AEC says there will be no penalty against the city because there was no written policy established before the violation.
The commission was asked to look into the case three months ago.
It's advising Huttig to establish a policy regarding city employees working on private property using city equipment.
A penalty against the city could have cost between $500 and $2,000 in fines.
Original story (September 27):
A mayor in Union County is the focus of an investigation by the Arkansas Ethics Commission (AEC).
A Huttig citizen complained about workers using city equipment and time to clean up Mayor Tony Cole's private property.
The owners of the Knight's Convenience Store in Huttig have also filed a complaint about the mayor with the AEC.
"The employees that are employed by the city have always used the equipment as long as they were doing something to help the community and not making a financial gain off of it," Mayor Cole said.
Meanwhile Knight Convenience Store argues that tax dollars shouldn't be used on the mayor's private property.
If Cole is found guilty, he could face a fine of up to $2,000.
