Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Okolona Council fails to adjourn, questions remain unanswered

Technically, Okolona's town council meeting is still in session.

Okolona Mayor Joy McElhannon left the meeting before it was adjourned, along with council members "Cooter" McCauley and Chris McCay.

The meeting was called to order with Mayor McElhannon informing the council of water clerk Kim McKay's resignation.

The council voted to accept McKay's resignation.

The council had followed the rules and advertised the job opening to the public with the result being 14 applications being sent in.

"We will now go into executive session to view the applications of each interested citizen. We will go over to the department to look at everything," said McElhannon.

The members returned after about 15 minutes with Mayor McElhannon asking if the council had a recommendation.

Iris Shephard was nominated along with Tiffany Barton.

McElhannon asked the council to vote by raising their right hand. Two voted for Shephard and two voting for Barton.

McElhannon said, "Well according to a city ordinance, when there is a tie it is to be broken by the mayor. My vote goes to Iris Shephard."

The mayor apologized to council member Hezzie Barton, father of Tiffany, and told him she would keep Tiffany's resume in case Shephard could not fulfill her duties as water clerk.

McElhannon told the crowd the council was pressed for time due to two members trying to make it to a church revival.

"I am putting a five minute time limit on each person requesting to speak. We have several people who have asked to address the council tonight," said McElhannon.

A man approached the council and asked if it would be ok to hook up to the city's water if he and his family paid for the pipe, meters and all other supplies needed to get city water.

After some discussion between the council and the citizen, it was decided that the man could do so and he would be responsible for any problems related to his hook up for one year after he did so.

Bennie Pollins was next to address the council.

Pollins' first question was, "Why wasn't there any chairs set up in here for the meeting tonight. Where are all the chairs?"

McElhannon answered with, "I don't know, there isn't many chairs."

Pollins asked if the mayor had driven over the streets he had been asking to be fixed.

"Cooter" McCauley said, "I drove over them and they are in better shape than they have ever been."

Pollins laughed and said, "No they are not. There is asphalt in the ditches instead of in the road where it needs to be. The first time it rains everyone's yard is going to flood."

The mayor asked for Pollins to go on.

Pollins' next question was about the fire department draining fire hydrants.

"When was the last time the hydrants were drained to get all the stagnant water out of them?" asked Pollins.

"Anything else," said McElhannon.

"Yes, when is the last time the hydrants were drained," said Pollins again.

"Anything else," said McElhannon.

"Yes, what about the sewer leak I have asked you to fix several times?" asked Pollins.

"Mr. Pollins, for the 999th time there is no sewage leak," said McElhannon.

"Yes there is," said Pollins.

Councilman Hezzie Barton spoke up and said, "There is something leaking out on the ground over there."

"Can I please get one question answered?" asked Pollins,

"No, I don't think so," was the mayor's response.

Pollins was then told his five minutes were up to which he told McElhannon he would talk as long as he wanted to.

Pollins asked why his property still had not been fixed and when they planned on doing so. Pollins also asked if he could hook up to the city's sewer.

McElhannon replied, "You can hook up anytime."

"Mayor, why are the water bills coming to us late," said Pollins.

"I am not answering that again," said McElhannon.

Esther Norton then stood up and asked the mayor if there was a problem with cashing or depositing checks paid to the city for water bills.

To which McElhannon said, "I will check into it."

During the discussion between Pollins and McElhannon, council member McCauley got up and left the meeting mumbling under her breath.

McElhannon told James Paul he could address the council and limited him to five minutes.

Paul told the mayor Pollins was still talking and the first conversation lasted for 7.5 minutes so he would not speak until Pollins was finished.

Chris McKay then made a motion to adjourn the meeting with no one seconding it.

Pollins sat down with Paul standing to address the council. McKay seemed disgusted and left the building.

Paul pointed out several things he felt the mayor had said about him based on here say.

Paul proceeded to ask the mayor why she kept allowing people to hook up to the city water although she would not allow the Clark family to hook up and use the water for their chicken houses.

"I have told you and told you that we cannot pump enough water to supply the Clark's and the town with water," said McElhannon.

Paul presented the council with figures he had gathered from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development it required the town of Okolona to turn in showing how much water it could pump and how much was on surplus.

According to what Paul had received, the figures the mayor had been telling everyone were wrong.

Paul pointed out the water budget approved by the council was illegal.

Paul told McElhannon, "You have been out-of-town mayor. It is ok though, you have been missed."

McElhannon responded with, "I am sure you did."

Paul then brought to the mayor's attention a check had been written on the town while she was gone.

"Did you know someone was forging your signature?" asked Paul.

McElhannon answered, "Oh my."

Paul asked McElhannon if she would like to announce to the town the water department was going to be audited by the state.

Paul asked McElhannon if she thought the water department calculator had malfunctioned.

Paul then told McElhannon he knew she was going back to Texas in search of political asylum.

"Have a safe trip mayor," said Paul.

"I am not looking for political asylum. My mother is in the hospital and I am visiting her. You are a horses @## and this meeting is over," said McElhannon.

McElhannon told everyone to leave the building because she was locking the doors. She then left without the meeting being adjourned.