December 29, 2015 - Citizens of Timpson were shocked when toward the end of the city council meeting held on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 Mayor Debra Pate Smith announced her resignation.
The final catalyst for this decision appeared to be the council's reluctance to adopt an ordinance and enter into a contract with a collection company to represent the city, and through which the city potentially could gain almost $1 million in revenue. What the law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. was offering to do for the city is collect on fines and fees owed to the Timpson Municipal Court after they reach an eligible maturity of 61 days. As prescribed by state law through the court of criminal procedure, to provide no cost to the city in collecting these fines and fees, a 30% fee would be added to each fee being collected to compensate the firm for the service provided. This is a service Shelby County recently adopted at Commissioners' Court.
Council members Yvonne Ramsey and Kyle Allen made a motion to approve the ordinance and when it was put to a vote, council members Ronnie Wolfe, Janell Baker, and George Grace all voted against the ordinance.
Allen implored the council members voting against the ordinance to provide an explanation "Can y'all please just explain why? Other than, is it just sabotaging anything that anyone else has an idea that, I mean, is that irritating to you guys? What's the point of not going along with this?"
Allen, Ramsey and Smith continued their questioning of the silent council members as to why they would not vote in favor of the ordinance.
"We're literally not going to do something that costs us no money? The legality isn't even on us that an outside collection agency is going to do. It's free! We're just not going to do it and the last few months all we've talked about is money and how much things cost and how expensive things are. Here's a life raft coming to us saying, 'Hey, free money! Come, come on, let's get it,' and we just stand here and we say no? I mean this absolutely makes me feel like everyone on this council, I mean that members of this council don't care about the town, they don't care about what's good for the town. I come down here, take time out of my day, I'd rather be home with my family. I'd rather be eating dinner with my family, but instead I come here and I get reactions this to what, if you can tell me it's a bad idea I would love to have a conversation about that. I would love to, but it's always just silence and no and that's the end of it."
Mayor Smith asked the silent council members if there was anything James Guest, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP representative, could explain to them, or if they have any questions or comments that could help everyone understand why they would not want to collect on $910,000 in fines as recent as July 2015 and dating back to 2004. Ramsey stated to Wolfe he has had a lot to say about the city finances and asked why he would not want the money collected.
"I've had a lot to say since last November about the financial status of the city, I have nothing to say now," said Wolfe.
The phlegmatic and disrespectful nature of the majority of the council when asked why they would not enter into the contract left the audience in bewilderment. Guest even pleaded with Wolfe for a reason to take back to his employers; however, he was met with silence.
"Mr. Wolfe, I understand that there are maybe some discrepancies among the court. I truly hope that you'll allow us to help the city grow, there are things that our law firm that's going to help the city of Timpson, and as a sign of good faith we want to help you and I would ask that you allow us to do that," said Guest. "To go back and have to explain to the law firm now why were unable to provide this free service to you is going to be somewhat difficult for me to explain; however, I hope that you would take advantage for your constituents, for the people of the city. We'll do whatever we can to improve the quality of life for the citizens here of Timpson."
Guest asked Wolfe if he could address anything in the contract with the law firm for him, because the firm would like to know the reason why the council would not want such a benefit," Is there something that we could do better that we could bring to the city?"
Allen stated after a long silence, "I can answer it. Why don't you tell them that you're dealing with a group of crazy people? That no matter how much you explain things to them, they don't really care what you tell them."
Mayor Smith moved the meeting forward from there, to the next item on the agenda, hiring a Financial Auditor for FY 2014-15 from sealed bids. The bids included Frank Campos $10,500-$10,950; Donald L. Allman $12,000-$12,500; Murrey, Paschall, and Caperton, PC. $15,000; David K. Godwin $18,000; Gollob, Morgan, Peddy $20,300; Halls, Johnson McLemore and Redfield LLP. $24,000.
A motion was made by Yvonne Ramsey, seconded by Kyle Allen followed by no discussion. The motion failed with Ramsey and Allen for the hire of Campos and Wolfe, Janell Baker and George Grace voting against his being hired.
Wolfe then made a motion to hire Murrey, Paschall, and Caperton, PC. for $15,000. The motion was seconded by Baker. During discussion, Allen asked if anyone could explain to him why the council was seeking to spend an additional $4,500, which was once again met with no response. When put to a vote Wolfe, Baker and Grace were all for the hire while Ramsey and Allen were opposed. The motion carried.
After someone in the audience made an expletive statement directed at the council members, Mayor Smith requested the individual silence himself. Wolfe asked Mayor Smith if the man was in order, and she stated, "I just told him to be quiet, but that's okay, you can tell him he's out of order because I just resigned as mayor."
Not long after Smith made her announcement, Wolfe requested it in writing, to which Mayor Smith promptly obliged him.
