Row rages over road repairs bill

A CASE of missing payment has led to allegations of lies and deceit.

Crossdale farmer Ralph Mayer has taken Somerset’s council to court. Picture: David Nielsen

A CASE of missing payment has led to allegations of lies and deceit.

The defence for the Somerset Regional Council has argued a Crossdale farmer who has taken the council to court, has deceived the council by calling for payments for post-flood road repairs he wasn't entitled to.

The Toogoolawah Magistrates Court yesterday heard from plaintiff Ralph Frederick Mayer who has accused the council of not reimbursing him for road repairs conducted following the 2011 floods.

Mr Mayer claims he was told by the Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann he would be "fixed up" for $32,504.05 of repairs he paid for on Coogan Rd North in January and February 2011.

Mr Mayer claims Cr Lehmann authorised the work and assured him of reimbursement for employing a contractor who had equipment on Mr Mayer's beef cattle property.

However, the council has disputed this claim with defence barrister Michael Amerena alleging Mayer had neither authorisation from the mayor nor any assurance of repayment.

Mr Mayer and Mr Amerena spent much of the day disputing the date and content of phone calls the mayor and other members of the council had with the plaintiff regarding the road repairs.

An emotional Mayer, who is hard of hearing and was wearing a hearing aid, struggled to answer many of Mr Amerena's questions.

"This is one of the worst witnesses I've ever seen," Mr Amerena told the court after Mr Mayer incorrectly answered a number of questions.

Mr Amerena said Mr Mayer had issued veiled threats in letters to the council to "campaign in the media" against the mayor and the council. He said the road had been repaired to a condition far exceeding its state before the flood.

"You wanted a better and improved road at Coogans Rd North," he said.

He argued Mr Mayer had contacted the council a number of times prior to the flood to upgrade the road.

However, Mr Mayer denied the claims stating he only wanted to improve Coogan Rd North road beyond its initial state, saying he only wanted "ordinary access" to his property.

The hearing continues.

Originally published as Row rages over road repairs bill