City Council President wants 'Retro Metro' audit - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

City Council President wants 'Retro Metro' audit

In late August, Jackson City Council members toured city office construction at the Metrocenter Mall. Developer Retro Metro took them on the tour. Some felt the tour put to rest any rumors that the city didn't get its $50,000 worth in regards to the high-speed internet wiring.

"As far as any city investment it's been answered completely," said Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett Simon at that time.

But Wednesday morning, Council President Tony Yarber pushed for an audit of the work.

"My suggestion is that we look at doing, get someone to do an audit for us," he said.

There was no discussion on the cost of an audit, but Yarber feels it's necessary. 3 On Your Side asked why.

"Anything that the City Council gets a contractor to do, they're not micro managed like this. What is it about this particular project that you all want to splice the numbers here?" we asked.

"Typically when the City Council votes on a project that deals with a contractor, we don't have contractors or partners that change, where that particular business may change hands, where the ownership changes," Yarber said.

Retro Metro managing partner David Watkins recently left the company, and that has caused concern for some.

"The reason is because there is instability in the group," Yarber said, when we asked why he wanted an audit.

Council member and attorney Quentin Whitwell, who has represented Watkins in the past, voiced his reservations to the audit.

"If this is a witch hunt, or if this is about personal developers or trying to go after them for personal reasons or whatever, then I'm out," he said during the meeting.

"This is not and it will not be a witch hunt," Yarber answered. 

Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.