COLUMBIA (WACH) -- For the second day in a row, a Columbia public relations consulting firm at the center of a questionable city contract is not responding to requests for information about its business.
WACH Fox News stopped by P.J. Noble & Associates offices on Middleburg Drive Tuesday afternoon and again found them locked. No one answered our repeated knocks on the door nor did anyone answer our calls placed to the office phone number. However, the office lights appeared to be on Tuesday afternoon. During our visit Monday the lights were off.
Columbia City Council awarded the firm a $65,000 city contract last week to manage a "public information and community relations initiative" related to infrastructure improvements along the North Main Street corridor. Duties listed in the contract include writing press releases and newsletters in addition to holding public meetings.
Columbia already employs a full-time public relations department, which prompts the question what services P.J. Noble & Associates provides that could not be handled by existing city employees.
City Manager Steve Gantt refused to discuss the matter with WACH Fox News inside council chambers last Wednesday.
According to the firm's website, P.J. Noble & Associates specializes in public relations and governmental affairs consulting and has been in business since 1987. It claims previous clients include numerous airports throughout the Southeast and roadway transportation projects.
City spending records show the firm has already received more than $17,000 in payments for consulting services from the city so far this year. P.J. Noble & Associates received $8,698 on January 28 for its consulting on a streetscaping project. In July, the firm was paid an additional $8,548.
WACH Fox News will continue to ask for an explanation of why these consultant expenses are necessary for the city. We'll bring you the answer when we get it.
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