Caruthersville Council continues heated meetings

The Caruthersville City Council met in regular session on Monday evening. During the call for approval of the past minutes, Councilman B.T. Merideth stated a correction needed to be made to the minutes because the motion he had made was not worded properly. The minutes stated that Merideth made a motion “to seek outside legal counsel to investigate. If the allegations prove to be true, then impeachment will be asked for.” However Merideth’s motion had been to seek outside legal counsel to move forward in an impeachment hearing.

Councilperson Nick Cartee then asked what the process was in preparing the minutes asking if they were recorded and if the recording was used in writing them out and if anyone else made changes to the minutes. City Clerk Takella Motton stated that the minutes were recorded and that she made notes and then went back and wrote them out and that no one else made changes. Cartee went on to ask why some conversations were recorded and others were not, Motton explained that she could not put down everything. Cartee said the minutes should be discussions on motions and that any quotes should be put down in entirety and not just parts of the quotes instead of summarizing it. Councilperson Johnny Hood asked if anything vital had been missed in the minutes and Cartee responded “not in these minutes” but went on to say others would be discussed in closed session.

Councilperson JJ Bullington then said there needed to be a correction in what resident Tom Tidwell said in the past meeting. It was recorded in the minutes that Tidwell had a petition circulating for the resignation but the petition was actually for a recall of the election.

She went on to share her concerns regarding the financial status of the city, “The finance committee spent many long hours and had several meetings preparing a budget for the City of Caruthersville. The budget was presented, with detailed information about each fund, with concerns and projected fund balances noted. The city council adopted the budget on Aug. 21, 2017. Any expenditures approved or authorized outside of the budget should be brought before the council for approval, with recommendations for a budget amendment. That includes the amount of the increase and the fund in which the expenditure should be made. Otherwise, the finance committee, nor the council, cannot assume responsibility for any obligated expenditure outside the approved budget.” One such situation arose during this council meeting as the mayor explained he had hired a part time person to help in the city tax office, but that this had not been discussed or planned for in the budget.

During the open floor session of the meeting, Mayor Mike McGraw told the group to raise their hand if they wanted to speak and that he would take down their name but they could only speak once and could only talk if their name was on this list.

Tom Tidwell spoke saying he had almost 250 signatures on the petition for recall of the mayor but that he felt it was time to do something because “we have a mayor who steps outside his jurisdiction and abuses his authority. Including putting employees on leave without the consideration or approval of the council.” He went on to say he had found a statue that allowed for the council to vote and made a decision on the removal of the mayor immediately.

Donald Jeffries then spoke asking if there was other options available in the repair of the recreation center roof and why the local hotel was not paying their city taxes. Councilperson Lawrence Dorroh explained that there had been some changes in the ownership and the operation of the hotel and that it was still being sorted out.

Robert Jones then spoke stating “at what point since this mayor has been elected have you done anything but try and obstruct him.” Councilperson Matt Duckworth shared things he had worked alongside the mayor with. Jones went on to ask if they had worked with him on any of the business he had proposed. To which Duckworth said, “He would have to propose some for us to be able to work with him.” Jones then asked what the council themselves had proposed. Councilperson Johnny Hood stated that he had proposed on numerous occasions during the council meetings of exploring and looking for businesses to come to the city and means and people with the abilities to help bring business to the community. “I not only support the mayor, but I support anyone who would like to bring business to Caruthersville. If that means selling land, leasing land to make that happen, I have always been for that and voiced that,” said Hood.

Jones went on to say that he had been living in the city for years and that he had not seen any significant businesses coming into the area in that time. He asked “what is going to get done if no one will work together.” He went on to say that the council worked together to vote to impeach the mayor but nothing else. Duckworth responded saying that they had not voted to impeach the mayor, to which Jones argued with Duckworth saying he was “pretty sure they had.”

Jones went on to ask what laws McGraw had broken. “What has he went to jail for in handcuffs? Has there been any issues of derelict of duty, did he not show up for work, come in drunk? Anything he has been doing on the city’s time that is against the law? Right now it is just allegations.” “If sex is a crime everyone in here should go to jail. What you do on your own time shouldn’t be anyone’s business.” He went on to say if there was a crime committed on company time, where was it? Several in the audience said it was currently in the court system to which Jones responded it was just allegations. Jones wrapped up his discussion saying if he had not done something illegal, and not just immoral there was no reason for impeachment.

Mary Beth Hudgens then stated she wanted to know how to file a grievance against the mayor. She explained that she had written a check in March for rental on the armory and that as of today, the check had still not cleared and that she no longer used that old account and that the check was stale dated and no longer any good. Takella Motton stated that she had spoken to Hudgens and that she had told her to bring the cash for the check back to the office. However Hudgens said that was not true that Motton had told her to go to the bank. Motton explained she would not have told her to go to the bank because the city would be the one to need the money, not the bank.

The Mayor explained that the check was paid in March and that it was held until October but that he did not know why and pointed her to Terry Rushing. Rushing explained that he had held the check in turnover. The Mayor explained there was no way for the city to collect the money at this point other than her bringing the cash to them. Hudgens stressed her frustrations to which Motton agreed she understood but that she was not responsible. Cartee asked how she had found out about the check. Hudgens said that people in the community were telling her that the mayor was showing her check around town. The mayor said that would be pointless for him to do because the city just wants the money. The mayor said it was the fault of Terry Rushing and that he didn’t look over his shoulder to watch everything he does. Rushing stated that he had turned the check over to the mayor the day that the mayor suspended him.

Doug McDowell then asked about the availability of officers coming to churches to help them train and prepare for emergencies or possible intruders. Chief Tony Jones said Jerry Hudgens had been to training for just this thing and would come and speak to their church and any other church who was interested.

Charles Motton then spoke about the need for people to come to the council meetings and speak. He shared about his idea of setting up a recycling center in the old Brown Shoe building that could recycle the communities garbage and provide jobs and income. He also said the city needs microphones and videos to record everything that is said and done in council. He added that the video recording that is used now is not accurate. He asked that the closed session minutes be made public within the allotted amount of time. Charles then addressed Tom Tidwell telling him that the statue he shared that evening was “malarky” and that it was not the full information. He went on to share an online post made by Tidwell that Charles felt was racist. “There are no facts, no information about working together to improve the city and bring in business,” he said. He went on to say there needs to be a Love’s station put in at the end of South Ward because it was much needed and that it would be a great asset to the community. He wrapped up his discussion saying there could be a Neighborhood Wal-Mart but back into the old Wal-Mart building. He went on to address Tidwell again about the post he made online and how inappropriate he felt it was. He went on to say that he had information on each and ever council member that he could release about them. Councilperson Matt Duckworth stood to speak with him saying he agreed with him and that he didn’t want the bickering either. He went on to say that he had invited Charles to come visit him at his home about the issues and ideas he had, Charles stopped him and said he was not interested in private conversations or conversations held in public on social media. Duckworth said he had taken his position on the council to try and make the community a better place but that he would not continue to “belittled and threatened”. Charles said that no one had threatened him and Duckworth responded that Charles had made the statement that he had something on all the council members. Charles then asked why he left his past job, Duckworth responded to take another position. Conversations grew loud and the meeting had to be called back to order.

Luther Robinson then spoke to the council showing them newspapers saying that everything in the paper was negative toward the mayor, pointing to Christina Williams, Editor of the paper saying she had a personal vendetta against the mayor “but it is alleged that you stole, but you want to scandalize the mayor every chance you get.” He went on to say that the reason no businesses want to come here is because of the negativity that is printed in the paper. “None of the council want to work with the mayor, anytime he has an idea they want to go against him.” Williams then asked exactly what the paper was supposed to report since that is exactly what was discussed in the meetings. Chaos again ensued and the meeting was called back to order.

Dawn Jordan then spoke about how ashamed she was of the community and the way that people were acting and conducting themselves.

JJ Bullington said she agreed with some of the things that were discussed that evening and asked that the ideas Charles had suggested be brought to the economic committee to see if they could possibly work. She told the mayor that he had appointed an outside group to help with the economic growth and that she hoped they would consider them all. She went on to say that she felt the microphones at the table were a great idea.

Steve Motton then spoke saying “Mike has his issues just like everyone has.” He went on to say everyone has issues they do not want brought to light, including him. He added that he was an advocate for kids and asked what would happen should students come in and see the conduct at the council meeting. “The issue with Mike is between him, his wife and his family because we have all done things that we are not proud of. I don’t want to put all my mess out there either.” He went on to speak about his experience with past Mayor Hot Rogers and Mayor Diane Sayre. “I believe we are putting money before our kids,” said Steve. He continued on sharing that he was disappointed in the way the school had handled the situation a couple weeks ago when a murder happened near the school.

Lawerence Dorroh explained that the statue presented by Tom Tidwell did not apply to our class of city but that there was a statue almost identical that did apply.

Mayor Mike McGraw then presented an ordinance providing for the voluntary drug testing of elected officials. “All employees are subject to drug testing but elected officials are not. We had a discussion about it a long time ago and I do think it is a good idea,” said McGraw. He went on to say that you could list the medications you were on and that the test would be for controlled substances. That you would sign a form on a voluntary basis.

Chief Tony Jones said he didn’t mine taking a drug test at any time, but asked what brought this up. He suggested that the mayor brought this up because he was aiming it at someone particular. The mayor responded said it had been brought up a number of months ago, and said, “but since you are not on the council why don’t you let them discuss it.” Duckworth then asked why such an expensive test was being used, stating that there were several fees including a fee for every drug, prescription or not, that was found.

The question was then asked who wrote the ordinance, saying the test was even for alcohol testing. Lawerence Dorroh said he did not write the ordinance. It was then asked who did write it, Mayor McGraw then said he had Ed Reeves write it up because Dorroh was busy. Dorroh was asked if this was true and he responded saying he had never been asked about it. McGraw said “whatever the case are we going to vote it in or not?” Dorroh explained there was a privacy law that would be violated with this, he explained that everything someone took would become a public record, whether it be anti-depressants or anything. As discussion ensued, the Mayor said he was withdrawing the ordinance. Chief Tony Jones then said he had a right as an elected officials who was involved in this he had a right to discuss and ask questions.