Current Putnam County Parks and Recreation Commissioners have                                   been vocal about the                             spending habits of                                  former commissioners                                  and their former                                     president, Sally                                     Holliday.

Among the criticisms                                  leveled by current                                  president William "Bill"                                 Byus, III,                                       Commissioner Shirley                                Searls, and current                                    Parks Director Scott                                 Williamson, is that                                through the years,                                    work was done by                                commissioners and                                       their companies,                                    instead of by                                     independent vendors                                   and companies.

Holliday has staunchly defended the practice, saying many commissioners volunteered their time, and/or obtained services at below-market prices in order to keep costs down.

One major project built by volunteers is the Valley Park Community Center which has been in the news recently because commemorative bricks were moved without the knowledge or permission of donors that funded the construction of the center at no cost to taxpayers.

During research for the costs involved with relocating those bricks, PutnamLIVE.com was provided with receipts for art purchases to decorate the center. The expenditures totaled nearly $1,453.64. One of the receipts is posted above, along with photos of some of the art.

The art includes several paintings, a mirror, fake flowers, and a flower stand, in addition to some trim decor next to the paintings and mirror.

Much of the art was purchased through Home Interiors dealer Mary Mills, who told PutnamLIVE.com that she did not have to bid for the sale. Some "wall decor" and candle holders were purchased at the Hurricane Wal-Mart with two receipts totaling $110.86.

When PutnamLIVE.com called Williamson for comment, he snapped, "I'm not going to speak to the art purchase."

So we called Byus at home. His response was, "We don't need to do a bid, it's no different than buying a painting for your home."

Yes, Mr. Byus, it's extremely different. The Community Center is a public building, and, Byus confirmed, the funds were public funds. What people do with their own money in their home isn't public business. However, when a parks and recreation department spends more than $1,400 of public funds on art for a public building, that is public business, and the press has a right to report the purchase.

Byus became extremely defensive. "Why are you so belligerent," he asked. "The money came from marriage ceremonies and receptions. I understand you spent some time in jail. Would you like to go back? The next time I see you, I will take care of you," he added.

After Byus hung up the phone, PutnamLIVE.com notified Putnam Dispatch about his threat. Later, Hurricane Police Corporal Chris Eggleton took a complaint call.

Shortly after filing the complaint, PutnamLIVE.com took a camera to the Community Center and took the photos of the art featured in this story.

Williamson defended the no-bid process saying, "Our policy, which I wrote, doesn't require bids for purchases totaling less than $5,000. Doing bids for less than $5,000 is a waste of time and money because we have to publish them in newspapers."

Why didn't Parks and Recreation invite local artists to showcase their work in the Community Center at no cost to the department?

"We're not a museum," Williamson says. "We've already got one of those."

Holliday, who spearheaded the effort to build the community center with private funds, declined to comment on the issue.

"I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings who tried to decorate the center," she says.