Alleged malfeasance within the city of Hattiesburg's Public Works Department under the leadership of Russell Davis and Tim Pittman has been well documented in the past. Allegations of overtime schemes, maintenance of private vehicles by city workers, and even city maintenance of a private vegetable garden were all reported by this blog in the article "Mayor Johnny Dupree Cited “personnel matters” in Scheme: Russell Davis & Tim Pittmon Repaid Over $28,000." Both Davis and Pittman paid restitution to the city involving an alleged overtime bilking scheme, but new information is surfacing that these alleged schemes may not be all that occurred at the expense of taxpayers.
The Hattiesburg Patriot has uncovered multiple instances of what appears to be bid rigging activities involving the "Two Bid" process, involving projects within the Public Works Department when Pittman and Davis were over the department. "Two Bids" are types of bids that involve purchases or jobs costing less than $50,000. These bids are not required by law to be publicly advertised, and only two bids (or estimates) are required before awarding the job to the lowest bidder. See pages 4 and 5 of the State Auditor's Purchase Law Overview Handbook. (b) BIDDING PROCEDURE FOR PURCHASES OVER $5,000.00 BUT NOT OVER $50,000.00 Purpose -Two Quote Bids Required Note - Must Document Best Bids – See Sec. 31-7-13 (d).
The companies involved are a "Cantrell Construction" and "Mike Miller Construction, LLC." The Hattiesburg Patriot investigated and found that that Cantrell Construction is likely a fictitious company which likely bid up the various projects costs. Mike Miller Construction was always awarded the bids. There is no proof that Cantrell Construction has ever existed as a legitimate, legal entity. Cantrell Construction is identified as being located at 44 Trystan Dive in Petal. However, Amy Heath, who has been with the city of Petal building permit department since 2001 has never heard of "Cantrell Construction. When asked about Cantrell Construction she said, " I do not remember a Cantrell Construction since 2001." Heath went on to say, "We do not have any active permits on file for Cantrell Construction."
Cantrell Construction:
(1) Never had a tax privileged license with the city of Petal to operate as a legal entity within the city
(2) Never pulled a building permit with the city of Petal (according to the permit department manager in Petal)
(3) Is not known to the building department in Petal, and they have never heard of "Billy Cantrell" or "Billy Cantrell Construction."
(4) Has no contractor's license with the state of Mississippi (However, this is not required for bids less than $50,000)
(5) Never had a license with the city of Hattiesburg to legally work within the city. (To perform work with the city contractors must be licensed with the city.)
"Mike Miller Construction, LLC" was awarded the bids on all three occasions involving Cantrell Construction. Tax records show that Mike Miller has a homestead residence on Cabin Road. What's interesting is that former Public Works Manager Tim Pittman lives at 100 cabin Rd. The two are almost neighbors. Additionally, Billy Cantrell and Mike Miller were related through marriage (Cantrell's former wife), and Michael Miller transferred property to Billy Cantrell in 2009. So, it is indisputable that the two knew one another. The three bids in question occurred in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and are embedded above. Mike Miller Construction let their license with the City of Hattiesburg lapse in 2012, the same year Tim Pittman and Russell Davis left the city after the alleged fraud was discovered in their department.
When a records request was submitted for information related to companies owned by Tim Pittman's father, Thomas Pittman, the Hattiesburg Patriot received a denial of those requests. The reason for the denial was the State Auditor had seized the records and the city no longer had them in their possession. Mr. Thomas Pittman owns a number of companies that have been awarded bids with the city, and he is connected with Apollo Maintenance & Construction, Inc. owned by former Director Russell Davis. Apollo didn't receive bids from the city, but instead received work from a company who received bids with the city.
All these criminals swirling around him, all these criminals in his administration, all this destruction of city property, school funds, blight, crime……and yet we continued to tolerate him, indulge him….
When one “elected” official is indicted and then convicted, we will see the breath of fresh air that everyone has been longing for.
Are these guys related to Ed Pittman ?
We need more people to send up the road in December ….. It’s all about cleaning up our city . We have a Mayor Election coming up and hope Dave Ware will run again . It would have a good chance of getting it this time .
Ann Stanley We need a change in Hattiesburg and I think we are on the right track . Then when need a new Sheriff for Forrest County next .
We have a good start… 3 guiltys in one week!!!
Please come sieze Jackson, Mississippi before Corrupt Mayor Tony Yarber, Socrates Garret and con artist Bishop Ronnie Gudrup over New Horizon rob us blind.
They need to visit Brooklyn water association. Theirs a story to get their.
Figures, absolute corruption!
Now look what you’ve done! You should be ashamed for causing this to happen! (holds up SARCASM sign for Sheldon)
Now they need to visit Lumberton!!!
Usually when one domino falls , they all fall !!
The entire Hattiesburg administration is nothing more than a continuing criminal enterprise; and as such should brought down with RICO, just as the Italian mob was taken down.
Both Tim and Russell were Johnny’s men.
At it ain’t so not in Hattiesburg
Wish we could post a picture so we can see the people that are stealing from us.
Is there code on temporary housing in city
This is why WE left the “Burg” I saw crap like this and worse on the dark horizon.
Hattiesburg, concentrate on not only cleaning up your smell, but government
Sounds like somebody got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
Well maybe you people of hattiesburg should go downtown and sit and talk with the mayor or someone about these problems…… If y’all wanted to do something y’all would’ve did 7 yrs ago……
The Attorney General needs to step in a investigate the Mayor and his whole entire staff….But don’t worry Mr. Mayor it won’t happen!!
Dupree administration at its finest
as Gomer Pyle would say “surprise, surprise, surprise!”
Gosh! what a surprise!
Of*
This type o behavior is what the mayor of New Orleans was just convicted of and will spend a long time in prison for. If there is evidence of this then it will not go away and when faced with prison time people will talk. Very curious to see how this plays out.
What can we do as citizens an people who want our city to be a real city like it use to be. No loud music. No drug sales on every corner. Junk cars, run down houses with people sitting out drinking mid day, pit bull dogs barking all the time, oh I can go on an on. What the use. The people who put this mayor in most are not tax payers, the goverment is paying their rent, buying their food an paying their health I insurance . All the do is vote for someone they think they can get more an do illegal things an get away with it
Tammy Piercy Guyton, just previous leadership of public works department, previous water department leadership, waste management, purchasing, current top police leadership, and the mayor, other than that everything is fine.
There’s usually a fall guy . Let’s see what sucker they’ll throw under the bus !
Hmmmm do you mean to say that there is corruption in EVERY part of Hattiesburg city government????
Why is this not being reported in mainstream news?
We only can hope Garry Loper. But as already stated no one is going to do anything because of who it is that is behind it all.
This actually could spell real trouble.
Rut row.
Want a damn thing be done about this just like all the other crap the mayor has known about or been apart of, makes me sick to my stomach to just see his face or hear his name, corruption at its finest!!
the mayor should be held accountable for this.
no prosecutor is going to go after a black leader in a southern town…. Dupree and his cronies could be running an illegal alien sex slave brothel in a casino that sells crack and no one would care
Jay Hyde, what you said is probably true unfortunately many people receive something that an honest man pays for, so who in his race will speak up? Who can without something happening to them?
Will they do anything with it?
So what they all can do anything illegal and get away with it , if it was one of us we would be in jail
Cool