This letter was received just after the 10th Judicial District Court granted the document-requesting-party, Doug Pesnell, the requested relief. The documents provided show that at the time of Mr. Pesnell’s request for document proof regarding grant funds received, the City had received only $3+ million of the nearly $40 million claimed as of March 12, 2024.
April 23, 2024
. . . . I was informed about the mayoral election and the claims that the current mayor made about obtaining 40 Million dollars in grant revenue since taking office. I have a brother who lives there and is interested in the elections in the area. We made a records request for grant applications, approvals, and funds received during Mayor Williams’ tenure. The letter request can be found in the record of the civil action cited above.
We did not get any records for a while, but ultimately obtained production of certain records from the city clerk’s office. I am attaching a worksheet done to show what was found on the production of the City. I had an associate do the work, and do not vouch for its accuracy.
However, it can be checked against the documents that were delivered to us by the city clerk.
I have already forwarded to you the documents we received from our public records request. Those documents were produced in connection with our request and the civil action noted above. The Trial Court judge denied the exceptions filed by the Defendants; and received evidence and arguments both for and against the imposition of attorneys fees, costs, and civil penalties. The Trial Judge has taken those items under advisement and will render a decision on those issues soon.
I am sending this to you because I believe that the election and election information are important public issues. Again, please review the documents carefully. I believe that those documents are pertinent to the claims of the current mayor about funds generated by him during his tenure. The exhibits I am sending is a recapitulation of what I believe the documents represent
With kindest regards, I am
Very Truly Yours,
/s/
William Alan Pesnell
OPINION POLL: Should the Natchitoches City Council request a state legislative audit?
