During the pandemic, Prichard received $5,088,767.64 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Financial reports NBC 15 News obtained show city officials used part of that money to pay themselves. Records show the city formed a COVID team and paid team members nearly $175,000 in six months from June 2021 to January 2022. Prichard's mayor Jimmie Gardner, who was not on the team, defends the payments.
"Do you know what they did to earn that? asked NBC 15's Andrea Ramey.
"They worked. It's quite that simple. You know, when the COVID came up, no one had any real idea how this should work, how the funds should be put together, plan and execution and implementation of those funds. A lot of work goes into that," said Gardner.
The report shows six high level Prichard city staff members were on the COVID team. Former Chief of Staff Rodney Clements, Interim Fire Chief David Hale, Police Chief Walter Knight, and Executive Assistant T.J. Pettway were all paid almost $28,000. City Clerk Franklin McMillon was paid nearly $25,000. Prichard City Attorney Moshae Donald was paid the most, nearly $33,000.
"The optics here are terrible," said former Prichard Chief of Staff Howard Porter. "It's an abomination of public service."
"To some people, it would look like people are lining their pockets here. Is that what's going on here?" asked Ramey.
"That's your statement. That's not mine. I just explained to you very, very clearly, that the law clearly states that under premium pay, that it was an allowable expense and they work for that money, just like anyone else does," replied Gardner.
In an email city attorney Moshae Donald said in part, "premium pay was allowable for all work performed during the COVID-19 pandemic to compensate workers who took on additional burdens and made great personal sacrifices as a result of the pandemic." She also wrote, "These individuals worked overtime to prepare the City of Prichard to operate during a national pandemic and to face and respond to ever-changing circumstances and challenges constantly presented by COVID-19, a viral disaster that we had never seen in our lifetimes."
Former Chief of Staff Howard Porter says even if they're following the law, he believes the payments weren't appropriate.
"What I hope happens is that a thorough complete in depth forensic accounting is done for these monies. Because it's too often that money has come in to project through the front door and out the back door," said Porter.
Records also show the city paid a consulting firm $178,000. Other cities we checked with -- Mobile, Saraland, and Chickasaw -- did not use ARPA funds to pay high ranking staff.