It’s official.
Udall voters will get the chance to recall Mayor Chris Lette in August, if they so choose.
Cowley County Clerk Karen Defore said today she has all the signatures she needs to place the recall issue on the August 3 primary ballot. The petition was turned into the count clerk’s office this morning. Defore will send the mayor a notice Tuesday, letting him know about the petition. He then has 10 days to give her office a statement regarding allegations he had improper business dealings with the city that were incompatible with his position as mayor, Defore said.
Defore needed 32 signatures to put the recall issue on the ballot. Roughly 80 signatures were turned in to her office.
Lette sent a lengthy email statement to Newscow today, responding to what he believes the petition organizers have against him, issues which involved his company doing work on the city’s behalf. Lette owns a business called C & C Development that does site work such as dirt moving. It’s this company that did some work for Udall, Lette said. You can find the mayor’s response below.
Other than that, Lette, who is in the middle of his sixth year as mayor, said today he doesn’t have a clue why the organizers want him kicked out of office.
"It’s so vague I can’t tell you what I’m trying to defend," said Lette. "You need to call one of those people on the petition and find out what they are talking about."
Newscow did get in touch with one petition organizer, Udall resident Julie Wilson. When contacted by phone, Wilson said she was headed out the door and had no comment, but would be putting out a response shortly.
Messages were left for other petition organizers, Gina and Randy Hoffman, but those calls have not yet been returned.
Lette said he has a clear conscience about his role as mayor. Every move he made, he said, was checked by the Kansas League of Municipalities and the city’s attorney, Bill Muret.
"I’m not worried about anything, no," said Lette. "I know I haven’t done anything wrong."
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Udall Mayor Chris Lette’s statement to Newscow.net, May 28, 2010:
We live in a beautiful small town with great things happening. However, three individuals, Gina L. Hoffman, Jesus Ybarra, and Julie D. Wilson, are broadcasting false information that tears down the community spirit and generous volunteerism. It is being said that I or companies I have interest in have benefited financially from transactions with the City of Udall.
The city records have gone through independent and state audits and have been approved with no exceptions or misdeeds every year that I have been Mayor of Udall.
I offer this brief explanation about my transactions with the city, which are a matter of public record:
Park Playground equipment:
My company purchased park equipment in order to catch a 44% discount that was offered.
I sold the equipment to the city when they were ready to purchase, at the same cost I had paid for it.
I absorbed all the costs of ordering, handling, inspecting, documenting damage, and reordering pieces (at least 90 man hours) at no cost to the city.
Condemned Home demolition:
My company performed the demolition of a condemned house to protect the city from the liability of the dangerous structure. I originally donated this service.
At the advice of LKM (League of Kansas Municipalities) and the city attorney, I invoiced the city $8000 for the cost of the demolition, in order to allow the city to collect the money if the property to sell.
The city paid this invoice, and I donated the $8000 back to the city.
This invoicing allowed the cost for the destruction of the building to be attached to the lien against the property. (If the property was to sell, the city can collect this $8000.)
To say that I or any company that I have interest in have made a penny off of this or any transaction with the city of Udall is insulting and demeaning. Any transaction between me or a business that I have an interest in has been and will always be approved by either the LKM or by the City Attorney, Mr. William Muret, or by both. In fact for this park project alone, my family, my business associates, employees, and I have pledged to donate over 2500 hours and $85,600.00 in materials and equipment. This park project is going forward because of the efforts of hundreds of citizens volunteering time and materials. None of the City projects are just one individual, it takes a group effort, coordinated by groups of volunteers and the City Council and N.I.C.E Committee. This is a great example of community spirit?something we can all be proud of!
With regard to ethics, my behavior and that of the City Council has been reviewed and evaluated by the State of Kansas, Department of Commerce, Community Development Block Grant, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment. None have found any unethical behavior in these community projects. These projects include new water lines, water tower, cell tower leases, housing rehabilitation program, and SCIP grant for the park. These entities have performed audits and investigations into the City’s business records and have found no inaccuracies.
Udall is one of the most open cities when it comes to finances. We post all our bills and checks written on the city web page. Our Council Meeting minutes are printed publicly and our records are an open book.
I wish to clearly and faithfully state for the record, that neither I nor any company that I have an interest in, have benefited financially or materially in any way concerning the Udall City Park project, or any city project.
I am a strong believer that elected officials are servants ? stewards of the citizens. An elected officer makes a commitment to look out for the City as a whole and keep the best interest of the City in mind at all times. I am a strong supporter of the City of Udall, and I believe that my record speaks for itself.
