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September 6, 2012

Minco citizens keep their public witness

James Bright The Express-Star

MINCO — Minco Mayor Watson Mitchell removed an item from the Sept. 4 city council meeting that would have had the council voting on whether to stop allowing public witness during council meetings.

"If our other meetings could be as orderly as tonight we would have never had to put this on the agenda," he said.

Minco's city attorney Bret Burns suggested removing the public witness from meetings after several long and emotional speeches from Minco citizens in last month's meeting.

Burns resigned from his position prior to the Sept. 4. meeting. The council also accepted the resignations of City Clerk Jana Brown and council member Shaun Bliss leaving an empty seat on the council.

Grady County sheriff's deputies were on hand to facilitate the safety of last night's meeting.

Several citizens spoke out against the possibility of losing public witness.

Amber Chadrick said the public witness lets the council hear the concerns of citizens.

"The public witness is important," she said. "It's our time to speak."

Chadrick went to elaborate on what she said was a persistent drug problem in Minco that is being ignored by the council.

"I'm tired of dealing with drugs in my town," she said.

Dan McMillian also spoke to the council.

He alleged that actions taken by the council over the last few months have been illegal and that no one on the council as following protocol.

"The mayor has allowed the rules to be broken," he said.

McMillian said the council's job was to keep the mayor in check just as it is the mayor's job to keep the council in check and neither were fulfilling that duty.

Both Chadrick and McMillian applied for the council position left vacant by Bliss, but after a few a short interviews the council appointed Calvin Woodoworth - the only candidate not at the meeting.

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