Investigation Reveals Svoboda’s Gross Negligence in Handling City Contracts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
Investigation Reveals Svoboda’s Gross Negligence in Handling City Contracts
LINCOLN, Neb. – In a press conference this morning, the Nebraska Democratic Party released the results of an investigation into issues related to contracts with the City of Lincoln to maintain street medians.
The contracts in question are held by Ray’s Lawn and Home Care, managed by City Councilman and mayoral candidate Ken Svoboda.
In reviewing documentation from as early as 2002, it was revealed that suggestions by Svoboda that issues surrounding his company’s work were isolated incidents were unfounded.
The Party supplied nearly 40 instances of communication from City of Lincoln staff, Clark Enersen Partners (the firm that oversees the maintenance contracts for the city), citizens and Mr. Svoboda himself regarding the unsatisfactory performance of Svoboda’s company in fulfilling these contracts with the city.
According to the documentation provided, on at least five separate occasions, city staff gave Ken Svoboda ten days notice to comply with the terms of the contract or the contract would be terminated. In one letter, dated June 15, 2004, Mark Canney from the Parks and Recreation Department wrote Mr. Svoboda to inform him that the contracts were considered cancelled as of that date.
The Party’s investigation also found that city staff were required to go to great lengths to receive a response from Ken Svoboda following repeated phone calls concerning complaints and issues. On numerous occasions, Svoboda never returned their calls.
Mr. Svoboda also had difficulty on multiple occasions complying with requirements set forth in the contracts to provide regular inspection reports.
Multiple issues regarding the fulfillment of invoices related to Mr. Svoboda’s median contract were also revealed. On numerous occasions, it is noted in communications that the city was billed multiple times for the same job. In one memo from Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Johnson, he states that “a number of invoices for payment were inaccurate, including having items previously paid for show up in subsequent invoices. An unacceptable amount of staff time was involved in reconciling prior invoices, current invoices and city payment vouchers.”
“On the campaign trail, Ken Svoboda has stated time and time again that he is a successful small businessman who will bring that experience to the office of mayor,” said Eric Fought, Deputy Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. “Following the conclusion of our investigation, we strongly encourage the residents of this great city to seriously call that experience into question.”
Fought also stated that had the City of Lincoln faced these issues with any other vendor, that contract would have been terminated long ago, noting a definite conflict of interest.
“Our city is in great need of strong leadership today. Ken Svoboda has proven time and time again that he is unable to effectively run his own business,” Fought said. “It is time for Ken Svoboda to stop passing the buck and own up to his failures that have cost this city greatly. Without question, he is not fit to maintain any contract with the city, let alone provide this community with the leadership required to move us forward.”