The leader of the Mandeville City Council is asking city managers who used public vehicles and gas cards for personal use to pay that money back.

The state legislative audit describes Mandeville's city vehicle policy by saying that city employees, including Mayor Price, routinely use city vehicles and Fuelman cards for personal purposes, such as out-of-state vacations.

“Obviously, you don't want to use public funds for personal use, and that's what this boils down to. It's the legality of using public funds for personal reasons,” said Mandeville City Council President Trilby Lenfant

Mayor Eddie Price and four city department heads are given city vehicles with city-paid gas cards, but as the audit points out, the city has no written policy with rules.  Lenfant says the city council has no way to know what was being charged on those Fuelman cards.

The audit charts vehicle use by the mayor and his department heads, including a $311 a month gas bill from planning director Louisette Kidd.

The audit says that Kidd “incurred 19 out-of-state fuel purchases, including eight separate trips to Destin, Florida, and one trip to Charleston, South Carolina. She explained that she has purchased gas with her Fuelman card while on personal vacation. Kidd added that Mayor Price and finance director Milton Stiebing were aware of these purchases and that she has never been asked to reimburse these amounts."

Kidd sent Eyewitness News a statement, saying "when I accepted the position of planning director, I was authorized to use a city vehicle in accordance with the stated city policy. Consequently, it is my understanding that I have been in full compliance with that policy."

Lenfant said that they were acting out on what they felt was city policy.

Rafael Goyeneche with the Metropolitan Crime Commission said those city department heads should begin by making restitution and pay back the taxpayers of Mandeville for the gas used on personal business.

According to the audit, city attorney David Cressy rang up a $235 a month gas bill..

“Both the planning director and the city attorney have said that they are absolutely willing to make whatever restitution is required,” Lenfant said.

Lenfant said she would be satisfied if restitution is made and resignations wouldn't be necessary. Goyeneche agrees.  For now, he says, he's only calling for Eddie Price to resign.

Meanwhile, Lenfant says the city council is working on a new policy which may restrict who gets city cars.

The council adopted a new credit card policy at its last meeting. She says they hope to adopt a new fleet policy at their next Aug. 28 meeting.