By Paige Gurgainers
Issues regarding a $25K grant awarded by CenterPoint Energy resulted in a heated discussion following an early exit for councilwoman Nicole Frazier at last Thursday’s City of Springhill workshop.
According to city attorney Nelson Smith, since the grant was applied for on behalf of the City of Springhill, it was his recommendation to send the funds back due to grant requirements stating it cannot be awarded to a governmental entity, in hopes of avoiding any issues with the city and auditors.
Frazier, who applied for the grant under the “umbrella of the city,” did it in hopes of using the funds toward establishing a tutoring/learning center in the Westside Community Center.
“I am not here to debate, if you want to send it back that’s fine, but I was under the assumption… because I talked to the mayor about projects and making our Westside Community Center a viable place for quality of life. This is not our first conversation, it’s just public now,” said Frazier. “An email went to the mayor and went to the clerk. When I did the grant, it was not told to me that it could not be done under the city’s umbrella.”
The center is owned by the City of Springhill, and Frazier said she could have applied for the grant under a different foundation but wanted it to be for city use.
“I thought everything was clear,” she continued. “I did it on behalf of the city because I thought we all were a team, and we all wanted the greater good for the greatest number.”
Frazier explained that she spoke with state representatives and multiple organizations in Springhill that expressed their interest and support for helping make this a sustainable project.
“If I thought I was wasting my time, I would have never wasted your time and especially mine because I wanted that for our whole city,” she said. “I put it where the greatest need was. I am not a criminal. It is not personal. I have good ethics.
“Most people that live in District 1 are poverty kids that come and go to school. That walk without a sidewalk. It is not fair. It is injustice. I work hard to make everything I do for the city shine, from every parade to every article – blood, sweat and tears,” Frazier continued. “I sit here with my colleagues that are arguably saying that something is wrong. I am not offended. I am just disappointed.”
The city attorney, Mayor Ray Huddleston and board members agreed there were no issues with what the money was intended, but the procedure by which the grant was applied.
Councilwoman Stacey Willard also added this needed to be done with board approval. She said, “We have to give approval. We have never discussed that you or whoever is involved in this is going to start a learning/tutor center because that is something that we are going to have to continuously fund.”
Ultimately, it was decided the funds would be sent back to CenterPoint to avoid issues with future audits, but since the grant program has ended, they were unsure of whether the money would be accepted.
Other issues discussed during the workshop included the unfinished Splash Pad – the contractors overseeing the completion of the project wanting more money and threatening to sue engineer John French personally – along with city vehicle usage and a pay raise for the mayor and Chief of Police Will Lynd.