ABERDEEN — After a series of suspicious occurrences at the Aberdeen Electric Department, the Aberdeen Police Department is taking over security of the department.
The Aberdeen Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 Tuesday to have the APD begin opening and closing the electric department building and monitor the existing security camera system. The electric department was already embroiled in a months-long scandal involving the theft of public utilities. That investigation has resulted in seven arrests, including Electric Department Manager Adrian Garth, a cousin of Ward 2 Alderman and Vice Mayor Cloyd Garth, as well as Cloyd Garth”s brother, Ricky.
Cloyd Garth, who voted along with Ward 1 Alderman Alonzo Sykes and Ward 3 Alderman David Ewing to put the APD in charge of security, said the suspicious occurrences, reported by Police Chief Henry Randle Tuesday night, included a missing file containing a promissory note from Signature Cabinetry agreeing to pay $10,000 in delinquent electric fees. A $5,000 payment from Signature Cabinetry is accounted for.
“No money is missing and no personnel data. It”s simply some paper files,” said Ward 5 Alderman John Allen, who voted against giving the APD security duties at the Electric Department. “People were looking in the wrong place. The mayor (Jim Ballard) said he had the files in his office.”
Mayor Jim Ballard, who was at Tuesday”s meeting, and Randle were unavailable for comment Wednesday.
Randle reported the security cameras at the Electric Department had also been turned off by unknown persons on multiple occasions.
“The security is in place, but every time we need to look at some of the films it”s been conveniently turned off,” said Cloyd Garth. “Two times recently we”ve needed films and it”s been turned off.”
Allen says he voted against placing the APD in charge of security at the Electric Department because the reports of improper procedures were not reported before Tuesday”s meeting and he wanted more information before making a decision. He says having the police open and close the building could interfere with Electric Department employees accessing their work areas.
“It may cause delays. (The police) have to meet our employees down there each time they open up or on weekends when they”re called out,” said Allen.
He said the locks at the Electric Department had not been changed in 10 years, meaning a large number of people have access to the building and the security system. The locks are being changed today.
Citizens at Tuesday”s meeting also complained of being billed for longer cycles. Allen says the department is short several meter readers which has disrupted the billing cycle. Some billing cycles have been reported as long as 44 days.
Allen said Ballard and City Attorney Bob Faulkes are planning to hire an independent firm to help with meter reading to correct the billing cycles.
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