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Ethics Board Docket No. 2024-113 <br /> Page 5 of 12 <br /> 12. <br /> On December 19, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., the road material bids were opened and read at the <br /> UPPJ Office. At 10:33 a.m. on December 19, 2023, Tommy Durrett sent a text message that said, <br /> "Congrats. You got the bid. Thanks"to Mark Hartman. <br /> 13. <br /> On December 28, 2023, during a special session meeting, the UPPJ unanimously passed a <br /> motion to award the road material bids for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, <br /> 2024, which included the bid awarded to Ergon "based upon the best price, availability, hauling, <br /> location of job, and quantity needed." <br /> 14. <br /> Ergon and Mark Hartman fully cooperated with the BOE's investigation of this matter. <br /> 15. <br /> If called to testify, Mark Hartman, in his capacity as Ergon's Area Sales Manager for <br /> Louisiana, would state that he and Tommy Durrett have been friends for more than 15 years and <br /> often socialized even before Tommy Durrett worked for the UPPJ, that entertaining Tommy <br /> Durrett and his wife in Nashville was not an attempt to secure a financial, contractual, ar other <br /> business relationship with the UPPJ, and that Ergon was awarded the bid by the UPPJ based upon <br /> having the best price and quantity needed. <br /> IV. <br /> PROVISIONS OF LAW: <br /> 1. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1117 provides that no public servant or other person shall give, pay, loan, <br />