Nix claimed in his column that the Oakley Redevelopment Agency spent $12 million to purchase 7 acres and three buildings on Main Street, including the Centromart store. The purchase was made for $6 million.
This week, Nix said, “I saw the $12 million figure in a news headline and used that number from memory. I was not able to find that article again … I do appear to be in error re the amount.”
Concerning his assertion that $500,000 was spent on equipment to broadcast City Council meetings, Nix said Wednesday that he took the number from estimates for City Hall expansion work provided by City Manager Bryan Montgomery while Nix was a city councilman. A project estimate sheet from the contractor reviewed by The Press this week, however, indicates the cost for all audio-visual equipment in the entire city hall (of which the TV equipment was only a part) was to be approximately $110,000.
Said Nix on Wednesday, “I have spoken to the provider of the AV equipment since the article was written, who gave me a figure off the top of his head of $150,000 for his equipment. I can only conclude that Mr. Montgomery’s figures for AV included related furnishings for the AV equipment and/or wiring work, possibly the council desks etc.” Nix’s statement did not address the discrepancy between the $150,000 and his original claim of $500,000.
Concerning his comments that Montgomery had improperly fired an employee who filed suit against Oakley, Montgomery said this week that no such lawsuits have been filed. Nix said Wednesday that he was attempting to contact a former city attorney for particulars, but had been unable to do so by press time.
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