Internal Investigation in Malvern After Money Missing, Future Park Left Unsightly
By: Josh Berry
Updated: July 23, 2012
A city employee is under an internal investigation in Malvern after the Mayor said money didn't get sent where it should have.
It's all stemming from a park project that homeowners now said is an eyesore.
"It just makes me sick," said Carol Corder.
For well over a month, Corder has had the problem right outside her front door.
She claims her property value has plummeted.
"Nobody wants to buy a nice house with this across the street from them."
A piece of property was donated to the city in 2004 under the conditions that they turn it into a park.
Eight years later, they made real movement on clearing out timber, but left what some people said is an eyesore.
The Malvern Street Department was involved with helping facilitate the clearing and hauling out, but the money made from selling the timber, never made it back to the city.
When allegations of misappropriation of funds against Street Department Superintendent, Len Dawson surfaced, Mayor Steve Northcutt decided to start an internal investigation conducted by the police department.
What kind of an agreement was made, where the money went and why it now looks like this were the main questions.
But the city only cleared 10 acres, leaving unsightly brush and trees here and there. There's still 30 untouched acres but the city has put a hold on it until the Mayor and Street Department can develop a specific plan moving forward.
City Council Alderman of Ward 2, Wayne Reynolds has the area in question in his ward.
"As pointed out earlier there should have been an overall plan as to what it's going to look like when they get through with it," said Reynolds.
Reynolds doesn't think anything inappropriate is going on because he's worked with both the street department and the mayor for years. He just thinks management of the situation could have gone differently, from getting to the project quicker, having a plan, and not leaving it like it is.
The city said they tried to leave a few trees here and there for shade.
"Get real," said Corder. "I'll be old and dead before any of those trees get big enough to furnish shade."
While she's all for a cleared out park, one that looks nice, she also wants to make sure those responsible for what's across her street, are held responsible.
It's all stemming from a park project that homeowners now said is an eyesore.
"It just makes me sick," said Carol Corder.
For well over a month, Corder has had the problem right outside her front door.
She claims her property value has plummeted.
"Nobody wants to buy a nice house with this across the street from them."
A piece of property was donated to the city in 2004 under the conditions that they turn it into a park.
Eight years later, they made real movement on clearing out timber, but left what some people said is an eyesore.
The Malvern Street Department was involved with helping facilitate the clearing and hauling out, but the money made from selling the timber, never made it back to the city.
When allegations of misappropriation of funds against Street Department Superintendent, Len Dawson surfaced, Mayor Steve Northcutt decided to start an internal investigation conducted by the police department.
What kind of an agreement was made, where the money went and why it now looks like this were the main questions.
But the city only cleared 10 acres, leaving unsightly brush and trees here and there. There's still 30 untouched acres but the city has put a hold on it until the Mayor and Street Department can develop a specific plan moving forward.
City Council Alderman of Ward 2, Wayne Reynolds has the area in question in his ward.
"As pointed out earlier there should have been an overall plan as to what it's going to look like when they get through with it," said Reynolds.
Reynolds doesn't think anything inappropriate is going on because he's worked with both the street department and the mayor for years. He just thinks management of the situation could have gone differently, from getting to the project quicker, having a plan, and not leaving it like it is.
The city said they tried to leave a few trees here and there for shade.
"Get real," said Corder. "I'll be old and dead before any of those trees get big enough to furnish shade."
While she's all for a cleared out park, one that looks nice, she also wants to make sure those responsible for what's across her street, are held responsible.
