By Archie Boan
Mr. Enoch Togar, CEO of Champion Designs, has accused Mayor Robert Bestman of transferring core regulatory powers of the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to a private advertising company that actively competes in the same market.
A fierce public dispute has erupted over the management of advertising regulation in Paynesville, as Togar claims the outsourcing arrangement creates a “grave public concern” and an inherent conflict of interest. Champion Designs, a media, print, and billboard advertising firm with more than fifteen years of operation, says the move undermines transparency and fairness in municipal governance.
“We do not oppose outsourcing in principle,” Togar said. “What we oppose is the reckless transfer of public regulatory authority to a direct market competitor. This places a competitor in the position of both referee and player.”
Togar emphasized that regulation is a fundamental government responsibility that must remain neutral, accountable, and transparent. He warned that allowing an advertising company to regulate the same industry in which it competes could erode public confidence and distort competition.
Champion Designs claims it has faced repeated delays and denials in permit approvals for billboard locations deemed “unsuitable,” only to later see similar structures installed in the same locations by the company acting as regulator.
One example, Togar said, occurred at the ELWA Roundabout, where the company proposed a digital billboard for the Ministry of Transport but was informed the site had future plans. Temporary advertising boards have since appeared at the intersection, allegedly installed by the regulatory company itself.
Another case cited was the Duport Road Junction, where temporary advertising installations reportedly evolved into a large entertainment structure contributing to traffic congestion. “These developments raise serious questions about selective enforcement, urban planning consistency, and the misuse of regulatory discretion,” Togar said.
Beyond permitting issues, Togar criticized what he described as double taxation of branded vehicles operating in Paynesville, arguing that businesses should be taxed only based on their city of registration. “If this practice continues, the cost of doing business will rise, and ordinary citizens will ultimately bear the burden through higher prices,” he said.
Champion Designs also raised concerns over a reported 50 percent increase in exhibition fees, describing them as excessive and inconsistently applied. The matter is currently before the courts.
Togar further alleged that actions have been taken against Champion Designs’ advertising materials, including removal and defacing, which he says raise serious ethical and procedural questions. More concerning, he claimed that some clients were told Champion Designs was not tax compliant and were advised to engage the regulatory company instead-a claim he called false and damaging.
He criticized the lack of public disclosure around the outsourcing arrangement, noting that key information, including contract terms, procurement details, revenue-sharing arrangements, and the legal authority for the transfer of regulatory powers, remains unavailable.
Champion Designs is calling for the immediate release of the outsourcing agreement, full disclosure of the procurement process, legal clarification of the regulatory transfer, engagement with all advertising operators, and a suspension or review of the arrangement pending legal scrutiny.
“This is not a personal dispute,” Togar concluded. “Regulatory power is not a private asset. It belongs to the people. Governance must be guided by transparency, fairness, and the rule of law.”
As of press time, the Paynesville City Corporation had not publicly responded to the allegations.
