Light work, but heavy going

WHILE I do not normally become involved in debate in My view there seems to be need on this occasion.
I wrote last week that Araluen Ward councillor Rob Wilson, for whatever reason, clearly placed an order with DBE Floodlighting of his own volition without authority from the council.
The order was for light poles at the Strathard Reserve costing more than $30,000.
The poles were made and the account remains unpaid after several months.
The full article was on page 35, Wednesday 16 November, my birthday, and is on the web at www.starnewsgroup.com.au
When Cr Wilson’s response came I thought all my birthdays had come at once. In a demand to my editor Garry Howe he said: “Re: ‘My view’ by Jim Mynard, Pakenham Gazette, November 16 edition. Your paper has allowed the publication of untruths with Jim Mynard’s ‘My View’ segment about me and the light towers allegations of being done ‘without authority’. As you know, I acted on behalf of my cricket club, Maranatha Methodist and was authorised to deal on behalf of the club. A full public apology is required in your next edition with a similar size headline on Jim Mynard’s page. Your paper is required to NOT allow mistruths and half-truths about me to be further repeated or published. I will instruct my legal people to take further action if the above is not actioned. I await your paper’s public apology. Cr Rob Wilson.”
My view did not mention the club in regard to authority and no apology is given, but Cr Wilson’s view is.
I said that his action was without council authority.
Both Mr Howe and myself have repeatedly asked Cr Wilson to provide the minutes from his club that authorised the purchase, but he has not.
In searching for a minute from the club or clubs through other sources I find that the situation at Strathard Reserve is a mess.
Initially there was an overarching body for sports at the reserve under the name of Narre Warren Lions Sports Club (NWSLSC) that encompassed football and cricket.
However, the Narre Warren Junior Sports Club broke away leaving two main bodies, the football club and Maranatha Cricket Club, plus a fight over money.
Cricket Club president Rob Ward (not Pastor Ward) said he recalled discussion at a NWSLC meeting two months before the towers were ordered that favoured making the order, but he did not have the minutes and could not recall whether or not there was a minute that authorised the purchase.
“I was part of the committee that wanted the lights, but I thought we should have waited until we had the grant approved.
“If he had authority it was from the NWSLSC, but the club has gone off by itself,”Mr Ward said.
Yet Cr Wilson said in his demand for an apology that his authority came from the Maranatha Methodists Cricket Club.
Whether Cr Wilson had club authority or not to order the lights he still required council authorisation.
Mr Ward said the lights were for the football club because the cricket club did not need them.
He also said that if the cricket and football clubs could patch up their differences they could meet conditions needed by the council for a guarantee on a loan.
My view is that this is one sensible way to get some light on the situation.
And, the bill for the lights is still unpaid.