Exclusive interview with former Public Woks employee and whistle blower, Corey Adams.
“(Larry Barnes) came and got me told me to take a ride with him and that nobody needed to know where the gates were going. He brought me out there, and I measured them, went back to the shop and built them, and when I came back Monday, they were gone. I not sure who installed them. I just built them.”
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The Hattiesburg Public Works Department is no stranger to scandal and allegations of impropriety under the leadership of Dupree era Public Works Director Larry Barnes. Just recently, this outlet blew the lid off a recycle scandal that had transpired for well over two years and right up to the day the investigation was published. Barnes initially reported the video reported as “an isolated incident,” but the event was anything but isolated.The investigation by this outlet ultimately revealed that for over two years approximately 140 city residents, who paid for recycling, had their recycle material loaded every week with other trash and taken to the landfill.
Months after the report, Mayor Barker held a press conference (video above). Barker admitted that the report published by Hattiesburg Patriot News Media was 100% accurate and that refunds or credits to the affected residents would be given. Barker attempted to turn the negative moment into a positive situation by demonstrating how the problems of the past would not reoccur, and that residents could have faith in the program, the department, and Larry Barnes. Mayor Barker demonstrated the new process for recycling, and Barker, along with Councilwoman Mary Dryden, stood behind Barnes as the man for the job.
Now, a new problem has arisen, and this time it appears to have much more serious implications. A former Public Works employee, Corey Adams, reached out to this outlet about a number of things that he was ordered to do for Barnes and Manager Allen McKinley, using city material and while on city time. In a post on HPNM Facebook Adams wrote,
“So I figured I’d put a set of gates on fb that Larry Barnes the big boss made me make on city time and materials witch (sic) are now out in front of his house…”
A few days after Adams posted the statements to HPNM Facebook, photos of two newly constructed, wooden gates were taken at Larry Barnes home in Timber Ridge Subdivision. It’s clear by the photos that new, wooden gates had been installed and that steel gates no longer were installed.Those pictures are seen here. Corey Adams identified that home as the location where Mr. Barnes took him to measure for the steel gates. Adams states in the audio,
But now that’s the, that’s the house you showed me with the unstained gates with the little Mazda truck out. That’s where I went out to measure, measure for uh, measure for those gates.
An excerpt from the audio reveals the following:
HPNM: Okay, Now… where did the material come from?
ADAMS: I’m sure it was bought by the City. It was delivered on a truck, uh..
HPNM: Was it delivered on a truck to the city?
ADAMS: Yes, to the City of Hattiesburg. I unloaded it with a tractor, and tuned it into gates.
When asked on audio who instructed him to make these gates Adams said,
“(Larry Barnes) came and got me told me to take a ride with him and that nobody needed to know where the gates were going. He brought me out there, and I measured them, went back to the shop and built them, and when I came back Monday, they were gone. I not sure who installed them. I just built them.”
When asked if he had any other first hand knowledge of anything else improper. Adams said he was paid overtime to remove iron bars from a house that was to be demolished by the city and load the material onto the Public Works Manager’s (Allen McKinley) personal trailer. He (Allen McKInley) said the city was demoing the house and they wanted to get the iron burglar bars first. According to Adams,
“He (Allen McKinley) said he was going to keep some of it (iron burglar bars) and put some it on Craig’s List.”
Based on Adams statements, serious consequences could arise.
To catch up on the related issues mentioned in the above article search the hashtags #ShadyGates #HattiesburgPublicTwerksDepartment