The lesson Kinston leaders can’t seem to learn is this: You can fool some of the people some of the time, and all the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. Sooner or later, the truth comes out.
We finally learned the facts behind the city’s mayoral race thanks to the forthright explanation from B.J. Murphy and the courage of former Mayor Johnnie Mosley, who confirmed the shenanigans. Now we know the truth behind the return of the $65,000 Golden LEAF grant to the Neuse II.
The story comes out because a prominent city resident wants to see the boat’s construction back on track. He offered to negotiate a deal with the city that would allow building to begin again in earnest, and tours to resume. When the gentleman, who has no connection to the boat except a desire to see it completed, met with City Manager Ralph Clark, he was told electricity to the boat was turned off not because of code violations, but because the electric bill had not been paid. Furthermore, the man was told that boat operator Ted Sampley refused to share financial information on the project and that resulted in the grant being returned to Golden LEAF.
Here’s the truth: The electric bill for the boat was up to date when service was disconnected. A cancelled check proves that. The city posted a notice at the site on Nov. 14 saying the city discontinued electrical service to the site because it is "without approval, inspections and in violation" of state codes. Building inspector Tommy Lee is responsible for enforcing those codes. One has to wonder why Clark would make such a statement to someone who was attempting to negotiate an agreement. Is Clark truly misinformed or is he obfuscating? If he is misinformed, who gave him false information?
As far as Lee’s right to inspect the boat, as he claims to have, Clark seemed to put that matter to rest a few days ago when city and county officials held a joint meeting. Replying to Commissioner Wayne Pittman’s urging to bring the city-boat dispute to a close and get on with the Neuse II’s completion, Clark said, “The Neuse II is a boat.” That should end the city’s argument about authority, since the city has admitted it would have no jurisdiction over a boat.
The statement about Sampley’s refusal to share financial information is also incorrect.
“I have been told that one of the conditions the grant required was a review of the financial records for the craft,” the negotiator said. “I was told that Ted refused to permit anyone to examine the records, so the money was returned.”
Former Pride Director B.J. Murphy said Sampley did, in fact, give Pride a complete record of all the boat’s financial transactions.
“The only reason the grant money was refunded is because a few board members wanted (Sampley) to relinquish control of the boat, not because (he) didn’t hand over records,” Murphy says. “In fact, (Sampley) did hand Bruce Parson a complete copy (at Pride’s request) and he and I were satisfied. That’s when the grant process starting moving forward. Even if Pride were concerned about financial record keeping, they and Golden LEAF had full control of how the money would be spent. (Sampley) submitted a budget for Phase II and Phase III and Pride approved the budget, and submitted that as part of the grant application.
“Golden LEAF also approved the budget and the grant was approved. The only item ever in question is who would own the boat. After (Sampley) and Alton (Stapleford) decided that the city would not be the best handler (for many reasons) and (Historic Preservation Group’s) indecisiveness, the Last Firebase decided to keep control, but ultimately did turn it over to a third party with no interest in the grant money or Pride (just to complete the boat).
“Again, the only reason Pride returned the money was the ownership question – which didn’t matter, because Pride and Golden LEAF had control of the budget and how the money would be spent. This was pure whitewash politics because some people just don’t like (Sampley) and want him out of town.”
Kinston’s chief buildings inspector Tommy Lee was on the board that voted to return the grant, as were several powerful and prominent business leaders.
Murphy resigned from Pride two months before the grant was returned.
The truth has a strange way of revealing itself, sooner or later. It isn’t always as quickly as we might wish, but it usually happens.
Just as the truth about the return of Golden LEAF money has surfaced, so will the truth come out about the abrupt departures of former Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce Director Paula Wells and N.C. Eastern Region Director Tom Greenwood.
All we need is a little patience.
Lee Raynor is editor of KinstonPress.com. She welcomes your comments at
leeraynor@kinstonpress.com.
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