Only two of Columbus’ six City Councilmen were ready to terminate Public Works Director Mike Pratt on Wednesday.
At odds over allegations of misuse of city property, the councilmen were mixed on whether Pratt egregiously erred in donating about $15 worth of city owned hot mix asphalt — which allegedly had grown cold and was unsuitable for city use — to be used on private property.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens and Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem criticized Pratt.
Mickens, who, during a public session of the council meeting, called for Pratt’s termination, said the council could not pick and choose what is allowable by law. Karriem concurred with Mickens and complained of Pratt’s general performance.
“I feel that after we find out what happened and what was done illegally, we need to take the proper action,” Karriem said. “Transparency is what we are supposed to give the people; it’s about trust. We can’t let things like this happen. One of the problems that is going on in the city is that no one is getting any work done in their wards. We are not getting anything from our public works department. I have written two letters stating my displeasure. You have special projects that get superseded over ward work. This is part of the problem. Overall, I do not have a lot of pleasure for Mike Pratt right now.”
“I do not know of any legal authority that would allow this, and I’ve searched and I can’t find one,” Columbus Attorney Jeff Turnage said Wednesday of Pratt’s actions.
The asphalt in question was used in a small section of a parking lot at Von’s Exotic Hair Salon, at 1401 Gardner Blvd. Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box, who represents the ward in which the salon is located, voiced support for Pratt.
“I absolutely do not think this was illegal. I totally disagree with what happened,” Box said. “I think it was all political grand- standing. I hate that I didn’t say something about it (Tuesday). The asphalt that was used was insignificant. I went there and looked at it. Two of the members of the council have a vendetta against (Pratt), and this was just an excuse to try and get rid of him.”
“What happens next is up to the council,” Mayor Robert Smith said. “But would I vote to terminate Mike Pratt? No.”
Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor and Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart agreed more information was needed, before they would support terminating Pratt.
“When we terminate someone, we bring them into executive session and give them a chance to explain themselves,” Stewart said. “I would like to sit down and talk with (Pratt) before I make a decision. But as of right now, I am not in favor of terminating Mike Pratt.”
Taylor echoed Stewart’s sentiments.
“I don’t think he should be terminated,” Taylor said. “Nothing has been proven to me yet. I wasn’t there and I’m not sure what happened.”
Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin took a neutral position regarding Pratt’s future with the city.
“If you go by the letter of the law, then yes, it’s illegal,” Gavin said. “I have mixed emotions on this. I’m going to have to look at it a little closer. Even though the law says it was wrong, I don’t think it was done in a malicious manner and I don’t think it was done as a political favor. I haven’t made a decision yet. I really don’t think there was an intent to defraud the taxpayers.”
With her salon the center of controversy, Von’s owner, Lavonne Harris, questioned her decision to ask Pratt for the surplus asphalt.
“I asked Mike for a little bit of leftover asphalt to fill a spot in my parking lot,” she said. “I don’t think he did anything wrong and I certainly don’t think he should be terminated. If I had known it was going to create all of this nonsense, I never would have asked him for it. This has gotten way out of hand.”
Pratt could not be reached for comment for this story.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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