Betting that people still like "free stuff"-----City manager’s purchase of $195K in gift cards as coronavirus relief under review - mlive.com

City manager’s purchase of $195K in gift cards as coronavirus relief under review - mlive.com
MUSKEGON, MI – The Muskegon city manager’s “coronavirus economic relief” effort that involved the purchase of about $200,000 in gift cards primarily from local restaurants is under legal review.
City commissioners on Tuesday, July 28, cried foul over the purchase of the gift cards that they did not approve.
...The city ended up buying about $195,000 worth of cards from 36 restaurants in the city, the only industry closed by executive order on March 17 – the same day the gift card program was implemented.
How the cards will be distributed remains to be determined.
Gift card amounts ranged from $3,000 to $7,000 per establishment.
Peterson has authority to spend up to $15,000 without commission approval...Read all.