Letter to the Editor

Is the Manila mayor paying for sewer, water service?

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Dear Honorable Manila City Aldermen:

As each of you are probably aware, on Aug. 16, 2012, I filed a civil lawsuit in the Pulaski County Circuit Court challenging the qualifications of Mr. Wes Wagner to seek the state representative seat for District 54 located in Mississippi and Poinsett Counties, Ark. Wes Wagner listed his primary residential address on his formal campaign declaration as 838 Highway 77 North, in Manila, Ark., and he stated that he has resided at that address at least one year prior to the Nov. 6, 2012 General Election. A hearing was held in the Circuit Court on Aug. 29, 2012 regarding the complaint that was filed on my behalf and it was determined by the circuit court that Wes Wagner was a resident of Mississippi County, Ark., and was qualified to stand for election for state representative for District 54.

At the hearing, various parties testified for Wes Wagner, including Mr. Wagner (himself), Mayor Wayne Wagner (his father) and Mr. Henry Ford, the Manila Water Department supervisor. A majority of their testimony related to the location and existence of the 838 Highway 77 North, Manila, Ark., address. According to Wes Wagner and Mayor Wagner, this address is allegedly the barn/shop/apartment building that is located directly behind Mayor Wagner's address at 914 Highway 77 North, Manila, Ark. As part of evidence to support Wes Wagner's statements that he resided at this address, Wes Wagner provided various items, specifically water bills from the City of Manila Water Department and an Affidavit from Mr. Henry Ford. In the Affidavit, Mr. Ford specifically states that he has personal knowledge that Wes Wagner has trash picked up at this location and he routinely has the same amount of trash as other residences in town.

Although the water bills listed an address of 914A Highway 77 North, Manila, Ark., as the service address, it was determined by the court that this was the same location that Wes Wagner listed as 838 Highway 77 North. Enclosed please find a copy of the water bills and the affidavit of Henry Ford for each of you to review.

During the hearing, my attorney examined the water bills with Henry Ford, while Mr. Ford was on the witness stand. Mr. Ford testified that the water bills provided for Wes Wagner's residence did not have a charge for sewer or for trash services for the location where Wes Wagner stated that he resides, but to Mr. Ford's knowledge, the sewer and trash service at 914A Highway 77 North address are still being supplied by the City of Manila's Water Department.

The water bills for this location were also discussed and reviewed with Mayor Wagner, while he was on the witness stand. Mayor Wagner admitted, under oath, that he has never paid for sewer or trash service to the 914A Highway 77 North location for as long as he has been provided water by the city's Water Department (which he stated was for a period of over 10 years). Further, Mayor Wagner testified that a former employee of the City of Manila's Water Department told him that he did not need to pay for sewer or trash to this location, as he pays for those expenses at his main residence.

However, my understanding, based on my experience with the City of Manila Water Department, is that for each water meter provided by the Department, the sewer and trash service charges are also billed to each meter; and there is no exception for this expense. Therefore, I respectfully request each of you, as the City Council for the City of Manila, Ark., cause some action to be taken to refund to each customer of the City of Manila Water Department that has a water meter provided to them by the City of Manila Water Department the cost that each customer incurred over the previous10-year period for sewer and trash services provided to them.

As each of you are aware, Mayor Wagner is a successful business man and was the city of Manila's city of attorney for a number of years before being elected mayor. Therefore, it is disappointing to me that he has been receiving the benefits of city utilities for such a significant period of time without paying for these services. As you know, the average cost of the sewer and trash is approximately $30 per month and each resident of the city of Manila has been paying to the City of Manila Water Department. However, Mayor Wagner has enjoyed these services while saving approximately $3,600 over the previous 10-plus years without paying for the services. As you know, we have many elderly and low-income residents of the city of Manila and these residents have been struggling to pay for these same services that our mayor has determined he shouldn't be required to pay for, but determined that he deserves them.

Further, in recent weeks I have received information from various city of Manila employees that Mayor Wagner has been using city of Manila-owned property (i.e, tractors) for his personal use and without compensating the city of Manila for this illegal and improper use. In addition, I am not aware of any resolution passed by the City Council of Manila to authorize Mayor Wagner to use the equipment for his personal use. Therefore, I request that you authorize an official inquiry into the actions of Mayor Wagner regarding the use of city of Manila-owned property for Mayor Wagner's personal use without authorization as this use is an illegal action taken by Mayor Wagner that has provided additional improper benefits to Mayor Wagner.

I look forward to hearing from each of you regarding this matter. Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please call.

Christopher Gamble
Manila