Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Okolona meeting short; but still controversial

Okolona's Town meeting was short and sweet, so to speak.

All members were present with recorder/treasurer Kim McKay present to read the minutes from last month's meeting and the month before. The minutes were approved, and Mayor Joy McElhannon said there was no old or new business to discuss, however, a citizen would like to address the council.

McElhannon asked the citizen to please rise and address the council.

The citizen asked, "The spot marked for the handicapped parking by the community building is in bad shape and I was wondering if this could be fixed before election time?"

McElhannon said, "I don't know why not." She then asked, "Do you have another question?"

The citizen replied, "Yes I do. I was wondering if the community was working on anything special for the 100-year celebration of Okolona, and, if so, is their a committee and can I be on it?"

McElhannon said the city is not working on anything and she didn't plan on having a committee.

She said, "Do you have another question?"

The citizen said no and McElhannon made a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Benny Pollins, another Okolona citizen, stood and said, "Adjourned, I was supposed to look at the minute book. I know you received my letter requesting to address the council in order to look at the minute book."

McElhannon said, "I received no such letter and this meeting is adjourned."

Pollins was apparently upset, and told the mayor he knew she had received his letter at the beginning of the week.

She then asked, "Do you want to look at the book?"

Pollins said, "Yes I do. But, I know you got my letter."

McElhannon said she had not and that she had not been to the Post Office so she couldn't have gotten it.

Pollins said, "This was a pretty sorry meeting."

McEllhannon said, "If you want to look at the book, then look at it, if not we are leaving and I am locking these doors so you better leave."

Pollins said, "I am gonna look at that book."

McElhannon replied, "You have 30 minutes to look at the book. I have things I have to do."

Pollins said, "You can't tell me how long I have to look at this book."

McElhannon said, "Yes I can, and I have things to do. Give me that book I am locking the building so you all better get out or you'll be locked in."

Pollins said, " That's fine I will look at this book at my house."

The mayor disagreed and told Pollins to give her the book as she reached for it.

Pollins, still holding the book, began to look through it as McElhannon said she was locking the building and that everyone would leave eventually because she was going to call the sheriff to make everyone leave.

James Paul went to his truck and brought back a copy machine to help Pollins make copies of the pages in the minute book so he could review them on his own time.

McElhannon eventually took the book from Pollins hand and told him time was up.

Everyone left the building with the mayor locking it and leaving.