The Columbus City Council voted to create a new position Tuesday night for project manager and staffed that position with local construction firm J5 Broaddus.
According to the secretary of state’s office, Jewel Edwards is listed as a member of the company. Her husband, Jabari Edwards, is listed as the registered agent of the company. Jabari Edwards was a campaign manager for Mayor Robert Smith in this year’s municipal election.
A copy of the original agenda emailed to the media late last week listed the city as reconsidering four positions: city attorney, city engineer, city judges and city prosecuting attorney. The listing for project manager was added to the agenda made available to the public at the meeting. The position will be contracted.
After Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor made the motion to appoint the firm and Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem seconded, Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box said he wanted more information about what the position was.
“It’s a professional service. What a project manager does is … oversees what the engineer is doing and looks out for the best interests of the city,” Mayor Robert Smith said. “The project manager also helps solicit grants and funds for the city of Columbus.”
Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin then asked for a substitute motion to request proposals for the new position. Box then said he “wondered about the wisdom” of the selection.
“We’re getting ready to start a new fiscal year. We have advertised for just about every position we’ve done since I’ve been on the board,” Box said. “I can’t see why that wouldn’t be the case here.”
Gavin’s substitute motion failed 4-2 with Box the only vote supporting him. Those two were the only opposers to hiring J5 Broaddus. It is not known what the pay for the new position will be.
Council to seek RFPs for engineer
Gavin nominated current city engineer, Kevin Stafford of the engineering firm Neel-Schaffer, to be reappointed for the post. Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner then made a substitute motion to accept request for proposals for engineer. The council voted 4-2 in favor of Turner’s motion, with Box and Gavin in opposition. Neel-Schaffer will have the opportunity to submit a proposal.
The council also appointed a new prosecuting attorney, Scott Colom, to replace Shane Tompkins. Gavin made a motion to reappoint Tompkins, which failed 4-2. Box was the other vote in favor of keeping Tompkins on board. Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens then made a motion to hire Colom which passed 4-2. Box and Gavin were the two dissenting votes. Tompkins had held the post since August 2012.
Colom said he was pleased to be selected.
“I’m proud. It’s my hometown. I always like the opportunity to serve,” Colom said. “I’m humbled that the city council gave me the opportunity.”
The council unanimously voted to retain city attorney Jeff Turnage as well as city judges Nicole Clinkscales and Mark Amos.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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