Tension rises again

Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms and Council met Monday in-person for the first time since July, but the meeting remained closed to the public due to the continued concerns and safety measures put into place of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tensions rose again between council members regarding the Development Authority of Warner Robins board. Council was to hold a first reading of an ordinance created to line state law with the city’s newly adopted City Charter (law), but before the ordinance was read, Councilman Daron Lee wanted to know if this was the same verbiage as state law or was it something the city created.

City Attorney Julia Mize said that the ordinance was drafted directly from the state law with the addition of an oath, which the new City Charter requires. Councilman Larry Curtis wanted to know what the purpose of the ordinance was since the state had already approved the law and the creation of the Development Authority of Warner Robins.

“Seems as though our new charter is causing more problems than solutions,” Curtis said. “As our former attorney, Jim Elliott said state law trumps city law, so why are we creating this ordinance, if state law does not require an oath?”

Mize again addressed that nothing had been changed and that the ordinance was to simply align the state law with the city’s charter. Toms said that this ordinance is not just for the Development Authority of Warner Robins, but that it will be for all boards concerning city business. Toms suggested that council only hold the first reading so that questions or concerns can be addressed over the next two weeks until the ordinance comes back up for a second reading and vote.

Curtis stated that he did not have a problem with the oath, but more so with adding an ordinance when state law has already established the rules and regulations. Lee then expressed another concern of his, which was Mize not going over the ordinance with the development authority’s attorney. Mize replied that she did not believe it was appropriate format to discuss city business with an outside attorney, to which Councilman Charlie Bibb echoed that he agreed. Toms ended the discussion by addressing that the charter states, “shall” create an ordinance and called for the first reading, to which Lee was assigned to originally read, but asked Toms for someone else to do so. Bibb and Councilman Kevin Lashley took turns reading the ordinance.

At the closing of the meeting, where council comments were held, Lee continued to express concerns of his regarding city operations.

“I still have some concerns regarding our city employees,” Lee said. “It seems as though some things have been left on the table for a mighty long time, and depending upon your race and sometimes it doesn’t have to deal with your race, it could be not going along with the status quo, of how the situation is handled. I get tired or hearing, ‘it’s an open investigation.’ That gets old. Yes, we live in a free country, and yes, there’s some freedom here at city hall, but it’s more so equal but still separated. I have a problem with that. There are some things the citizens need answers to, and our employees don’t have a voice down here. They’re not protected. That’s why you all need to exercise your right to vote. You’ve got to vote, you have to. You want change to take place, you be the reason for change and get out and vote. Not only for this federal election this year, but next year we have elections, four positions are up. That’s the only way it’s going to come.”

Bibb agreed with Lee in that he is sick and tired of a lot of stuff as well.

“First, I want to thank the city of Warner Robins employees and department heads for the fine job they continue to do,” Bibb said. “But it just seems the Development Authority of Warner Robins always has controversy around it. Take the simple ordinance as this tonight, our City Attorney stated five times this is state law and nothing was changed. It continued to be deflected, and I hope the citizens of Warner Robins will see through that, use their minds and education to see that a deflection game is being played. This ordinance, which is state law, is only lining up with our charter. Our charter is great and is not causing problems. What is causing problems on this is there are two conflicts of interest. We have one councilman who has a brother that oversees the development authority and another councilman who sits on the authority as a member. It’s a conflict of protecting the city. This was created because of a lack of communication between the city and Development Authority of Warner Robins.”

While Bibb was continuing to speak, Lee told Bibb to leave his brother out of it. Bibb then asked him not to interrupt him while he was speaking, which led to a heated argument between Bibb and Lee. Toms called for order and asked Bibb and Lee to stop.

“For a prime example, that’s what you see, conflict of interest; someone willing to point their finger and threaten,” Bibb said. “That’s just a conflict, and they don’t like to face the truth. They don’t like to see it for what it is. No one wants to be bullied; I am not going to be bullied. I am not going to continue to let a mouse over my right shoulder continue to chirp. I never said one word while he was talking. So that is the respect level that you see. I am going to reiterate what he said, you just watch and go vote. Your city government is important and affects you more than national. Some people are not for all people, and so I challenge you as citizens to listen very carefully to what’s being said. There’s nothing wrong with this ordinance, it holds accountability to the city. That’s the way it should be.”

Curtis stated in his comments that there is no conflict, but it more so seems to be an attack on the development authority.

“Since the beginning of the year, it seems like there has been an attack on the Development Authority of Warner Robins,” Curtis said. “Why is that, what’s changed? I believe in dealing with the facts. I heard someone say people argue and some are not for the people. I totally agree with that. Watch, look and listen. Understand this, some leave out a portion, and not telling vital information is also lying. Pay attention to what’s going on and ask questions, like what’s been done in the past? Just like what Mr. Holmes said, changes being made especially to the development authority—why now? Why during COVID where citizens can’t make a point? It’s ridiculous. People say one thing, but actions are totally different.”

Toms ended the meeting with his comments stating that he believed there was some mistranslation in that the ordinance was only for the Development Authority of Warner Robins.

“This is for all boards and an ordinance will be created over time when new members are appointed,” Toms said. “Mr. Curtis, your perspective is there’s an attack, but my perspective is there’s an extreme defense. But we will move forward in implementing some kind of resolution to that. Mr. Lee, I am also concerned about open investigations; there’s one that still hasn’t come out and has accused me of high crimes. I happen to know it was a false allegation and want to see that report. I believe it’s something everyone needs to see, and it’s disturbing to me personally. I think this, the most important thing said tonight and you better be listening, citizens of this city. You better be listening and watching everything that is going on. Exercise your right to vote. Voting is our highest honor as American citizens. Gather the facts yourself. That even stands true biblically; read the Scripture for yourself, don’t just trust what some preacher tells you about it. I think when you do, you’ll have a clear conscious in doing so.”

Toms also announced that there would be a special called meeting on Monday, September 28 at 5 p.m. to hold a second reading and adopt the 2020 millage rate. Public hearings were held last week and Monday afternoon, as well as the first reading took place during the council meeting.

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