Posted on 07/23/2005 9:02:51 PM PDT by freebilly
CLEARLAKE -- Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were on the job at Clearlake City Hall last week.
FBI agents spent two hours questioning Interim City Administrator Sharon Goode about several city administration procedures.
Although representatives at the FBI field office in Santa Rosa could not confirm or deny that an investigation has been launched on the City of Clearlake, agents were in town July 18 inquiring about city operations.
"They would not tell me what they were investigating or what the complaint was about," Goode stated. "(The city) cooperated; I answered their questions and they left. They said that they would contact me if they needed any further information or any copies of anything."
Goode reported on Wednesday that the agency has not recontacted her, nor has the city received a request for any documents. She further reported that, to her knowledge, no other members of city staff have been questioned.
On City Attorney Eric Danly advice, Goode's comments to the media were limited solely to the subjects questioned by the FBI agents. Goode said the inquiry included questions about procedures related to the processing of contracts as well as questions about bidding.
The agents also asked about a grant writing consultant contract from about three years ago, Goode said.
Members of the Clearlake City Council were also advised to limit their comments in regard to the FBI's visit.
"City staff has been directed to cooperate with the FBI officers in their inquiry," stated Mayor Judy Thein. "At present, we have no information as to the specific details of any possible investigation."
Councilmember Joyce Overton, who initiated her term with promises to investigate various city operations and procedures, said that results from any of her investigations have not contributed to the current inquiry by the agency and that the city council did not request an FBI investigation.
"No one likes to be investigated by the FBI," Overton said. "But it's good for the community to prove or disprove rumors and insinuation so that we can move on to accomplish the business at hand."
Although there has been no confirmation on who may be involved in the FBI's probe of the city, the grant consultant contract included in the questioning was obtained under the administration of David Lane with ultimate approval by the then-seated Clearlake City Council.
Lane served as the city's administrator from 1999 through June 2005. His resignation, as requested by the present Clearlake City Council, was received July 15.
Lane's residence on Oak Drive in Clearlake Park, went up for sale earlier this week.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
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