Tensions were high between aldermen and the mayor at Caledonia”s aldermen meeting on Tuesday night.
Alderman Bill Darnell declared a “personal point of privilege” and stood to address Mayor George Gerhart concerning statements he said Gerhart made in the Columbus Packet about him. At the board”s July meeting, Darnell”s wife, Betty, complained that Gerhart didn”t support her husband”s bid to become second vice-president of the Mississippi Municipal League. After the meeting, Gerhart contacted the Packet and called Darnell”s manhood into question.
“He called me a frickin” eunuch,” Darnell said. “I”ve been in this town my whole life. It”s not well in your character as the mayor of our town to print that stuff. It upset me a good bit, and it upset my family. My daddy wanted to come stretch your throat.”
“Thank you,” Gerhart replied.
“I knew you”d answer like that,” Darnell said. “All I can do is pray for you, George.”
“I”m going to pray for this whole table, Bill,” Gerhart said.
Gerhart also accused Town Clerk Judy Whitcomb of fraud for an alteration she made on Alderman Mike Savage”s expense report. Other aldermen listed a $37 expense for mileage to and from a convention with the Mississippi Municipal League, and when Whitcomb noticed Savage hadn”t reported the charge, she added it for him.
Town Attorney Jeff Smith clarified that although Whitcomb may have made a mistake, it was not fraud.
“What Judith did was wrong, but it wasn”t a crime,” Smith explained to Gerhart. “It was an unauthorized authorization, if that makes sense.”
Terry Farrish, who has been holding down four town jobs — including overseeing maintenance at the community center, overseeing community service and pest control — in addition to his full-time position with the Lowndes County Road Department, presented his letter of resignation for two of his titles. Effective Aug. 15, he will no longer supervise park maintenance or community service, but he will continue to deal with the community center and pest control.
“It”s been a pleasure serving you all,” Farrish said and cited different avenues with his regular job and a desire to spend more time with his family.
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