Ethics group: Watkins should repay funds

Four of the five members of an ethics committee looking into a complaint against Nicholson councilman Lamar Watkins agreed Tuesday night that he should pay back money he took for travel expenses to a convention in Savannah.

The five-member ethics committee did not officially vote on the issue, but each member spoke out on how they believe the issue should be handled. Their findings will be given to the city council.

Former Nicholson council member Faye Seagraves filed the ethics complaint against Watkins in a letter to the ethics board dated January 8, 2011.

Seagraves alleges that during her time in office, 2006-2009, the mayor and council received travel expenses for taking their personal vehicles to the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Convention in Savannah.

Seagraves said Watkins signed that he was driving and he took travel expenses even though he actually rode with council member Howard Wilbanks to the convention.

The council members were each given two checks in advance of the convention to cover travel expenses. One check, for $210, was for mileage, while the other check, for $300, was for meals. No receipts were required and there was no written policy or guidelines. The council did not have to show any proof that the money was actually spent on food and gas.

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#1 Dorothy Sailors on 05/04/11 at 04:00 PM [Reply]

What a waste of time and money? First of all there should be a written policy in place that was violated before someone is tried and crucified about the violation.

If Lamar took a Greyhound Bus to Savannah it would have been ok, but not okay to share the ride with another councilman. This whole thing smells like politics to me.

#1.1 Disgusted on 05/05/11 at 06:18 AM [Reply]

It isn't politics, Dorothy, its a vendetta.

Lamar didn't do ANYTHING different than all of the other council members and mayor, except he didn't sit behind the steering wheel of his own car. And EVERYONE involved knows it.

I think if people looked deeper, they would see that this entire thing has been brewing for a LOT LONGER than Faye Seagraves would have you believe, and started LONG BEFORE she was involved.

It really comes down to a personal "fight" between two people. It has been a game of "dirty pool", with the REAL antagonist hiding behind Faye, because he knows that people wouldn't approve of the sneaky, underhanded way he's been trying to "get" Lamar.

And before you "haters" start coming out of the woodwork, I'm not a fan of Lamar Wilbanks, but fair is fair, and this has been wrong from the beginning, and I would defend anyone else that was being attacked in this way.

If Lamar had really done something wrong (illegal), this would have been over and done years ago and the police would have been involved. Creating this "ethics panel" was a way to give Lamar a "black eye" in a back door way, since there was never anything illegal done to start with.

The person behind this should stop taking cheap shots at people and face up to them man to man, instead of trying to play dirty.

#1.1.1 No Policy on 05/05/11 at 03:04 PM [Reply]

Vendetta, politics, whatever. Any person of sound mind should know if you're not driving, you shouldn't get reimbursement for travel. That's just WRONG! I agree that there should be a requirement to present receipts for reimbursement and forget this providing money up front.Sorry, but, yes, Watkins did do something different. He wasn't sitting behind the wheel and this is crazy to justify this wrong-doing! He even signed a paper stating he was driving.....Closed case, he's a liar! Maybe he didn't break any policies, but I for one don't want a sneaky liar representing the community I live in. This may seem pety, but it's really not the money, but the moral caractor of the people leading our commnity. It makes me wonder what else we don't know that there "isn't a policy on"!

#1.1.1.1 Disgusted on 05/06/11 at 06:17 AM [Reply]

"I for one don't want a sneaky liar representing the community I live in."

Then why don't you vote the mayor out of office. If you want to get the sneaky liar out of office, you're obviously looking at the wrong person.

"He even signed a paper stating he was driving" Really? Well, why don't you post a copy of this paper in the newspaper? Lets see this "proof" that he "signed a paper stating he was driving" that everyone keeps talking about. I keep hearing about it, but so far none of you "haters" have shown ANY proof of this.

"Any person of sound mind should know if you're not driving, you shouldn't get reimbursement for travel." What an incredibly stupid thing to say. SO, you mean that if you fly in an airplane, take a train, or a taxi cab to get somewhere on CITY BUSINESS, you should NOT be reimbursed??? I bet you'd be the first one with your hand out wanting the city to reimburse YOU if YOU had incurred expenses traveling for city business, regardless of you "sitting behind the wheel" or not.

So, lets get this straight: Lamar Watkins rode with another city councilman to a location on city business, and you are saying that Lamar didn't cover any of the expenses? Or are you saying that he DID split the expenses but he should give the money back and the other councilman should NOT have to give any money back? All because the other councilman was "sitting behind the wheel"?

Wow. You really think people don't see that this is all about "getting" Lamar Watkins, and has NOTHING to do with money or expenses? Do you REALLY think everyone is so stupid that they can't see your REAL motives?

If you have something personal against Lamar Watkins, say so, and stop trying to play these little political mind games to justify your participation in this vendetta.

#1.1.1.1.1 John wells on 05/08/11 at 09:14 AM [Reply]

I forgot to mention his financial situation . His home has been in forcloser at least two times and how many people in Nicholson does he owe and have borrowed from. This may explain why he signed a bogus mileage form. If he can't handle his own finances how could you expect him to do anybetter with the city money. And who are you going to blame for this?

#1.1.1.1.2 No policy on 05/09/11 at 09:52 AM [Reply]

1.I did vote against Ronnie Maxwell.
2.The Newpaper reporter stated that Watkins signed a paper that he was driving.
3.If Watkins used his own money to fly a plane, bus, donkey, then YES he should be reimbursed. Riding along with someone else, no!
4.Yes, I would definately ask for reimbursement if on business for the city, after I provided a receipt!
Discusted, this ,may be all about getting Watkins back, I don't know, but keep your nose clean and you'll stay out of trouble! Don't try to twist things to justify a clearly wrong action. I'm not the idot!

#1.1.2 Remembring back on 05/06/11 at 10:00 PM [Reply]

.if you want this so important piece of proof the signed paper where he lied to steal funds go to city hall ask for it don't act like you think it's non existant it's available if you request it can't be simplier

#1.1.2.1 Disgusted on 05/10/11 at 06:53 AM [Reply]

Once again, I keep hearing about it, you all keep refering to it, but NONE of you has actually posted such a "signed that he was DRIVING" paper. The NEWSPAPER reported that one of his ACCUSERS said that he had signed such a paper.

Put up or shut up. Stop talking about something you aren't willing to provide.

"if you want this so important piece of proof the signed paper where he lied to steal funds go to city hall ask for it"

If you have it, then YOU post it. If you DON'T have it, then YOU are finding him guilty on HEAR SAY EVIDENCE, and jumping to conclusions.

The concept of innocent until proven guilty obviously no longer applies in this country.

#1.1.3 John Wells on 05/08/11 at 09:01 AM [Reply]

I am no politician. But commonsense is commonsense. A greyhound ticket would be reimbursable and a signed mileage ticket says I drove or I lied to raise the expense level. I'm sure greyhound company would not let him charge mileage according to the paper the ethics panel had the signed paper from Lamar that proved he lied. He was asked to pay it back but was so arrogant he thought he was above the law. He cant remember from one meeting to the next what has been done example his remark about hiring the city attorney. His business is conducted at the store after the meeting stirring up trouble as a councile member you should work out all problems at the meetings and not go around town gossiping telling lies to make him look important. If nothing else and this never happened whats to say about a man that runs a lawn service (sign on his truck) and operates a firewood service while drawing total disability. If you lie about one thing you will lie about something else.

#1.1.3.1 Disgusted on 05/12/11 at 06:41 AM [Reply]

John, this wasn't a reimbursement AFTER the fact, it wasn't a "signed mileage ticket says I drove or I lied to raise the expense level". This was money given in ADVANCE of the trip. And according to the facts in evidence, Mr. Watkins didn't just keep this money and not go on the trip. He took money for EXPENSES to go on the trip and then rode with another councilman SHARING THE EXPENSES. He gave at least part of "his share" to the councilman who DID drive. But nobody is asking the OTHER councilman to give back any of his "left over" money.

So, lets see how this works. Two councilmen get money for the trip. They decide to ride together, one drives his vehicle and the other rides along. We don't see evidence of the actual cost of the trip, but assume that it cost $200 to drive one car. So each councilman gets $200. The total amount given is $400...the trip cost $200. So each councilman should have about $100 EACH left if they split the cost evenly. But nobody is asking BOTH men to give back $100 each, they are asking Mr. Watkins to give back the entire $200 EVEN THOUGH HE GAVE PART OF IT TO THE OTHER COUNCILMAN FOR TRIP EXPENSES!

And people think HE is the crook? Geez.

#1.2 Remembring back on 05/05/11 at 10:33 AM [Reply]

Your husband served on the councll for years what policy did he leave in place? None. Everyone waS on their honor as it has always been with no problems but a thief cAn find a way to steal and shed a bad light on everyone. No matter how much the city is to blame if any he is still a thief and playing on ignorance is no defense . Common sense should have prevailed thanks for the memory tho sortof like what went on at armstrong and dobbs years ago with A trusted employee

#2 HONESTY!!!!! on 05/06/11 at 03:43 PM [Reply]

THIS WAS KNOWN WAY BEFOR THE REELECTION!!! IF YOU TAKE MONIES AND KNOWING YOUR NOT USING YOUR VEHICLE AND SAID YOU WAS THAT IS FLAT OUT LIEING. SO I GUESS HE DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG IN SOME FOLKS EYES. I DON'T HAVE PROOF THAT THE MAYOR OR ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SIGNED ANY PAPERS BUT I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES THE ONES THAT DROVE THEIR OWN VEHICLE AND SAW LAMAR IN THE BACK SEAT IN ANOTHER. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST LAMAR, BUT HE NEEDS TO QUIT THE LIEING ON PEOPLE WHEN HE KNOWS IT NOT THE TRUTH. SEAGRAVES HAS NOT MILKED THE CITY IF ANYTHING THE CITY OWES HER FOR ALL THE TRAVELING SHE'S DONE FOR ERRANDS HERE AND THERE AND GOING PLACES AND NOT CHARGING THE CITY BECAUSE SHE IS A GRACIOUS PERSON. ALL SHE WANTS IS PEOPLE TO KNOW MONIES WAS SPENT AND A LIE WAS TOLD ABOUT DRIVING THEIR OWN VEHICLE.

#3 no policy on 05/10/11 at 02:16 PM [Reply]

Personally, Discusted, I don't need that piece of paper! Besides, do you think it wouldn't be destroyed by now? If it did exist, I'm sure it doesn't now.

#3.1 Disgusted on 05/11/11 at 09:11 AM [Reply]

"I don't need that piece of paper!"

So you admit to judging someone because of your personal feelings, and completely disregard the evidence and the facts. Thank God you aren't sitting on the judicial bench and handing down punishment to people accused of breaking the law.

You obviously have NO regard for truth or justice, by your own admission.

Thank you for showing everyone what a closed minded, arrogant, unfair person you are.

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Ethics group: Watkins should repay funds

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Ethics group: Watkins should repay funds

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