Tombigbee Tales

Episode 11 Columbus Housing Authority and The Rubber Stamp Board

This comprehensive investigative report exposes deep-seated governance challenges within the Columbus Housing Authority (CHA), revealing a complex network of potential systemic failures that compromise organizational integrity, financial accountability, and public trust.
We're uncovering a peculiar board member who appears to be a long-standing fixture in the organization. Appointed under a previous administration, Greta Gardner seems to occupy a unique position - signing critical documents for both the Housing Authority and a related non-profit, yet remaining mysteriously inaccessible. What does Gulfport City Councilman Rusty Walker have to do with moving around the money in the CHA Draw? What is CFP? What is a JV? Why is Sheila Hosli with a non-business email and NOT an employee of the CHA “revising” the draw? Something is truly amiss here!

Columbus Housing Authority Ep #10 The Executive Director and Board Attorney and Non-compliance

 Today we examine the Mississippi Ethics Commission rules related public access to public records information and how the Columbus Housing Authority Executive Director and Board Attorney are in non-compliance. 

Ep. 9 Columbus Housing Authority and the Case of the Bumbling Bids

 The housing authority uses federal grants or gifts to help pay the housing cost of its customers. Federal money is given to the housing authority to cover all the normal costs of maintaining a place to live. As a result, the housing authority must comply with state and federal bidding rules on purchasing.
The laws are really clear, and they're easy to comply with if an agency chooses to follow them. Is the Columbus Housing Authority following federal and state bid law guidelines? I. Yes, no one knows right now, since the bidding documents have not been produced, we are asking for them, but the rules are pretty clear.

Columbus Housing Authority Ep. 8 Outrageous FOIA Bill and Continued Lack of Transparency.

My most recent FOIA request has been described as requiring 160 hours of work and cositn over $7000 to complete. What hogwash! Is nothing in the CHA digitized? 

Columbus Housing Authority Ep. 7 Foxes and Henhouses

 What started with looking into a truck that CHA purchased and got scammed on has made me look more carefully at how they conduct their business. It makes me question a lot of things they do and makes me wonder who else is scamming them. Follow along as I explore their ledgers. 

Columbus Housing Authority and Their Bed Bug Problem

It would appear that most of the service providers to the Columbus Housing Authority are from out of town, adding to the cost of their services. Was the Cook Pest Control account ever put out for bid? Is it rebid each year? Why does the Columbus Housing Authority have a huge bedbug problem that shows up each month in one and only one unit at varying amounts for treatment? 

CHA Ep. 5 The Executive Directors $52,000 in Travel Expenses and $100,000 in Credit Card Bills

Since October 13th, 2023, Executive Director Robert Grathree has spent $52,000 on conference travel and per diem. 
 In that same period, over $100,000 has been charged to the Columbus Housing Authority's credit card. None of that is spent on resident housing improvements, and none of that is spent on bills. All of those invoices and all residency work are paid for by checks. What is this credit card used for? What have they spent over $100,000 on in less than two years?

CHA Ep4 The Missing Truck Title, Scammers, and Meeting Minutes

Looking through the board minutes on the truck and the scammer, I found other anomalies that caught my eye…big dollar anomalies and still no mention of the scam. Interesting! 

Columbus Housing Authority Ep 3 Missing Truck Emails & Scammers

My recent FOIA request related to the Columbus Housing Authority (CHA) Truck and the 60K scam has raised even more questions about the activities of the director and board at CHA. 

Columbus Housing Authority Ep. 2 - The Case of the Missing but Not Missing Truck

Tonight, I am going to tell you a story that was told to me by people in positions of authority with the Columbus Housing Authority…a strange, convoluted story…and then I will read you three emails I was handed in a meeting. I should have much more on Friday as a result of a FOIA request and a couple of hundred dollars to get said public documents…but here is the story. Bear with me as I may struggle to keep it all straight—it is a doozy!