It happened again!

Mayor Seabolt called on the carpet for second time.

(NOTE: BRMNews has reached out to several governmental organizations and is awaiting their responses. As soon as they are received, their answers will be posted.)

When it comes to finances, all governments and legal entities are held to strict guidelines. Governments with officials elected to ensure accountability for the proper use of taxpayer money must follow procedures to function legally and efficiently. Nothing can be further from the truth than the financial mishaps of the McCaysville Mayor and City Council.

With the meeting at near standing room only, Gilita Carter, Susan Kiker, and Jason Woody met with the citizens for the first time. The three were elected to the City Council in November 2019 election.

Citizens turned out to be a part of the swearing-in of McCaysville City Police Chief Michael Earley to another term while others to voice opinions and receive updates to ongoing issues stemming from 2019.

In the last meeting, and again at this meeting, McCaysville Mayor Thomas Seabolt was called on the carpet by outgoing Councilman Rodney Patterson for what appears to have been misuse of funds for the City Park renovations. Coming to light was the fact the Mayor, without regard to the bidding process and required Council approval, hired two businesses to make the renovations. One, a non-licensed business.

Officially, requests for bids are published in a local newspaper. The Council then reviews submissions before deciding on acceptance. Patterson, at the request of Seabolt, was to oversee this process. However, Seabolt accepted and hired two businesses without allowing Patterson to present bids received for Council review. Seabolt's disregard for the proper process severely affected the city finances and the park facilities.

The second issue regarding Seabolt's acceptance without Council approval is the hiring of Councilwoman Sue Beaver's son. Dirk Beaver is the owner of Beaver Home Improvement, which is not a licensed business.

Keith Nicholson, Fannin County Building Inspector who is on $50 a month retainer by the City of McCaysville, has said, "Beaver Home Improvement is just a regular handyman-type of business. He is not licensed to do renovations in the State of Georgia." Nicholson further stated that Beaver's business is the type where the homeowner or business accepts the risk.

Seabolt tried to assure the crowd at last month's meeting all funds from the Grant to renovate the City Park's two properties as "we are working on it." This month, he said the same thing while seeming to dodge the issue as to what was holding up the State of Georgia from reimbursing McCaysville.

BRMNews is awaiting verification on the state's process for claiming reimbursement. In addition to the issues expressed at the meeting is a question voiced regarding an unlicensed business performing work for a government project utilizing grant funds and if it affects the funding.

As with December's meeting, citizens were questioning why their monies were being spent frivolously by Seabolt and the City. As it stands, the recent audit reported McCaysville was spending funds in its coffers it did not have. The city, in 'red' in areas of the budget and at times ' borrowing' funds from the Water Department budget to make payroll or the bills.

In an effort to receive clarification to items not receiving answers in the December meeting, Patterson also brought forward the following issues to the Mayor and Council: 1- Seabolt's gas receipts for December 2018, February, June, August, and October 2019 totaling $2,055.90. Patterson showed as an example, Seabolt would have traveled 12,335.4 miles on city business during the period mentioned. Last month, when confronted about his travels of over 12,000 on city business, "I guess I could have." 2- Miscellaneous tree stump grinding in the city as well as at the Water Plant in July and August for a total of $ $16,200. No response. 3- Fitness equipment purchased in September and October 2019 for $26,000 with no one answering who authorized this purchase, nor the type of equipment, or where this equipment is now. Blue Ridge Mountains News has located what appears to be the equipment and the name of who placed the order. 4- Holloway Trenching, LLC completed concreting the four-acre walking park. Owned by Jeff Holloway in Morganton, his company worked to get the park beautified. His company was paid $293,112.90! Holloway's Trenching was another business hired by McCaysville City government without going through the entire bidding process. 5- Improperly licensed drivers of McCaysville government trucks was another issue that City Attorney admitted "that's bad" at last month's meeting should one of these workers be involved in an accident. Seabolt, when questioned this month about it, said one worker had obtained his CDL credentials. He was vague as to whether other workers were receiving CDL training at this time.

As in December, Seabolt gave no response to any of the questions in defense of his actions. The citizens of McCaysville will need to push harder for their answers.

Vernon Tanner, a citizen of McCaysville, expressed how he felt about the misspending of funds discussed. ​ "I am a taxpayer, and you're not spending my money right!" Tanner stated. He further added how disappointed he was with the Mayor spending large amounts of taxpayer monies for "shabby" work at the City Park, including the large amount of money paid to Holloway Trenching. ​​ Seabolt quickly requested a motion be made to adjourn the night's meeting. He made no further comments concerning the above issues when approached afterward.

Councilwoman Sue Beaver did not attempt to comment on any of the issues brought before the Council Tuesday night, January 14, 2020.