Mayor involved in ethics probe
A complaint has been filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission against Russellville Mayor Troy Oliver.
According to the Alabama Ethics Commission, a complaint was filed on May 13, 2011, accusing Oliver of sending city employees to his private property to perform work.
“A complaint was filed saying that he used city employees to work on private property,” said Hugh Evans, general counsel for the Alabama Ethics Commission.
Evans said Oliver acknowledged two minor violations of Alabama’s ethics laws during a meeting on April 4.
The commission at that time approved his request for an administrative resolution and set a June 6 sentencing, where a fine of zero to $1,000 would be imposed.
Evans likened the violation to “a parking ticket, rather than a reckless driving ticket.”
Oliver, however, said Friday that he is unsure of what steps would be taken next.
“I have been informed that certain allegations have been made against me,” said Oliver, who is serving his first term as Russellville’s mayor.
“The fact that there is photographs of city workers with city equipment on property that I and my family own is very suspicious. I, more than anybody, would like to know who directed city employees to be on my property.
“I never authorized or requested that work be performed on our land by city employees. I am looking into the matter and have requested further investigation by appropriate authorities.”
The accusations center around work performed on Oliver’s property around his lake on Jackson Avenue, across from Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
City Councilman Gary Cummings acknowledged Friday that he filed the complaint against Oliver and city civil service board member Dayton “Red” Benson in early 2011.
“After receiving numerous complaints about equipment missing and conduct unbecoming of a public official, I looked into the matter myself and then felt like I needed to contact the Alabama Bureau of Investigations,” Cummings said.
“After their investigation, I was led to the Alabama Ethics Commission. It is not right for any elected official to use taxpayer money for his or her own benefit.
“In one way, reporting what I had learned about was not easy because I don’t want to put the city through any kind of negative light. But on the other hand, I know the difference in right and wrong and I believe some things were being done wrong.”
Oliver said he reimbursed the city for the time that was alleged to have been used on his property and it amounted to less than an hour’s worth of work on a backhoe.
The local district attorney’s office must sign off on the decision before it moves forward to be handled administratively. If the charges are not handled through the administrative process, they could be turned over to the attorney general’s office for further investigation.
