Road money used to buy car for interim administrator

By LARRY HILLIARD

Batchler Ledger Staff Writer

Cherokee County Councilman James Batchler used his road-improvement funds in a unique way — to purchase a car for Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary.

Batchler said he took the money from his gravel account because Clary’s car “was worn out.”

“I had some money (in the gravel account) that I wouldn’t probably use,” he said.

Batchler’s decision came to light near the end of Monday’s Cherokee County Council meeting when councilman Bailey Humphries said he noticed Clary was driving a new car but asked why the invoice for the vehicle didn’t appear among the county’s monthly bills.

Clary is now driving a 2004 Buick LeSabre. Clary bought the car for $14,800 on Dec. 29 at Burns Chevrolet Inc., according to county financial records.

The lively discussion began when Clary said the money was taken from Batchler’s road monies, more commonly known as a “gravel account.” Each council member receives $35,000 annually to maintain gravel roads and pay for other infrastructure needs in their respective districts.

Humphries, seemingly mystified by the response, asked, “Don’t we have a capital expenditure freeze?”

“Yes,” Clary replied.

“Then, our protocol wasn’t followed,” Humphries said.

Humphries then said the gravel account is earmarked for roads.

Clary said he’s not sure gravel account monies can only be spent on road projects.

“What you are saying is that we don’t have to do away with the capital expenditure freeze to buy anything,” Humphries said.

Humphries then questioned why council apparently disregarded its bid process.

Clary said he looked at several models but the LeSabre seemed to “be the better buy.”

Humphries asked who authorized the purchase.

A couple of seconds later, Clary said, “I authorized this.”

Humphries said the money could have been spent on roads in other districts.

“If a district doesn’t use the gravel funds, I’m sure there are some other districts which would use it,” Humphries said.

Council member Charles Mathis suggested that Batchler’s action wasn’t unusual and that road monies have been used to purchase such items as bush hogs.

Mathis then made the motion to pay for the LeSabre from the county’s general fund and return the $14,800 to Batchler’s gravel account.

Humphries and newly-elected councilman Quay Little opposed the motion.

“This gets into an ethics question,” Humphries said. “We need to start doing what is right ethically and legally. This is disgusting.”