Roll, dba DP Automotive, should have excused himself from truck repair

Letter to the Editor,

At the City Council meeting on Feb. 2, DP Automotive (Mayor Doug Roll’s business) had a bill among the city’s claims for work done on a city vehicle.

When I brought it up to the Mayor and council that I believe Mayor Roll has broken the conflict of interest (MCA 7-3-4256) that says an officer or employee elected or appointed in any city may not have an interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract or job for work or materials or the profits of the contract or job or materials, supplies, or services to be furnished to or performed for the city.  I believe he has also broken the ethical requirements for public officers and public employees (MCA 2-2-105), which states a town official can’t do a job and cannot competitively bid on jobs.

This is the same law that was read to me during a council meeting by Mayor Roll, that I broke the ethical law, because I had an opinion and expertise on the inflated irrigation job for Riverfront Park. That is why an extra $15,000 was spent.

This year, they are going to hire the same contractor to gouge the city again, to move some of the irrigation pipes, that were placed right where they knew their berms will be. They knew this before any of the work was started.

This job was offered by another licensed contractor to be done for free.

Let’s watch and see how much the city will pay him this time. I will keep an eye on it. This is how they keep their friends in business.

Not one of the other council people said or did anything but drop their heads and pretend it was not happening. These are the same people who allowed Councilmember Vicky Lawrence to also break the conflict-of-interest law, by making money on the $68,000 Stimulus grant, and poorly conducting the grant by buying dead and dying trees from a feed store. Remember the $11,300 six-foot-tall Ponderosa tree in Fireman’s Park?

People of Libby, this is an election year. We have to let these people know that no one is above the law and that the council works for the people of Libby. It is time to stand up and do the responsible thing, and vote. If you are not registered to vote, please do so.

This is the year we can make a difference in Libby.

If anyone needs a registration card and cannot get to the courthouse to get one, you can call me at 291-4894, and I will personally bring you one.

— Allen Olsen

Libby City Councilman