Evan Jones, Banner Editor
Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:46 am

Tiptonville aldermen unanimously voted to hold a hearing to investigate complaints against police chief Norman Rhodes following allegations made at the monthly city board meeting on September 8.

Terry Jamison III made the allegations against Rhodes one month after he attempted to do so and was turned down because he was not on the agenda for the August meeting.

Jamison made the allegations before a packed city board meeting with all six aldermen present and mayor Danny Cook presiding. City attorney Tim Naifeh was also present.

No date was set for the hearing in which Jamison said he could produce two witnesses who he named and said would agree to testify.

Among the charges alleged by Jamison, one was that Rhodes failed to serve warrants that Jamison had taken out on a Reelfoot Lake man he accused of attempted burglary during the January ice storm.

He also alleged that Rhodes had purchased beer in Hickman, Ky., while in a city patrol car.

He also made allegations of a more personal nature.

Looking at mayor Cook, Jamison said, “I know you are related but you need to be impartial.

“I can’t get anything done. There needs to be changes.”

“Were these city or county warrants?” asked Cook.

Jamison said he had the warrants sworn out before (Lake County Circuit Clerk) “Miss Debbie” (Beasley) for the ice storm burglary and also on another unrelated incident.

City officer Shelby Barker responded that the county usually serves that type of warrant.

Alderman Mario Montgomery, a Lake County deputy, concurred, adding, “Generally, it falls in the hands of the county.”

“It is usually best to have the warrant in hand,” said Barker.

Naifeh advised the board there are certain procedures that must be followed in the situation and urged the board to follow the city’s policy and procedures manual. “Of course, you, the board, have the authority to terminate anyone,” Naifeh said.

At this time, Rhodes, who was in the audience, had not responded to any of Jamison’s allegations.

Aldermen Dewayne Haggard and Sarah Woods asked if he was going to defend himself.

“I can’t make an arrest on those warrants,” Rhodes said. “He (the person accused) lives in the county. We don’t get civil warrants.”

Rhodes called the allegation that he was buying beer in Hickman in a city patrol car an “absolute lie.”

He said he had a warrant to serve in Fulton and returned to Lake County through Hickman.

Jamison said he had video proof.

“I’d like to see the tape,” said Rhodes.

Jamison again said he could produce witnesses.

Rhodes was asked if he had witnesses.

“I don’t have witnesses because I didn’t do anything wrong,” he responded.

“I want to talk to the witnesses and get the facts 100%,” said alderman Daisy Parks.

Alderman Dewayne Haggard made a motion to pursue the investigation and Montgomery seconded. Yates, Parks, Perkins and Woods joined them in voting yes.

The motion, as written by city attorney Naifeh, called for a hearing to investigate complaints (about chief Rhodes) and possible disciplinary action—if any.

No date was set for the hearing.

BYRD DENIED RE-INSTATEMENT ON TIE-BREAK
City employee Brian Byrd approached the board about regaining his job at the waste water plant after being moved to the street department, a lesser paying job.

Byrd acknowledged to the board that he had received a DUI in recent months and also a positive drug test.

He said, however, that the reason given for moving him was that he was a “liability”.

“But I did not drive or use a city vehicle at the waste water plant,” Byrd said.

He requested re-instatement to the water plant.

Water plant supervisor Gary White defended Byrd’s move from the waste water department.

“It was more than the DUI,” White said. “The job description is that you must have a valid driver’s license.”

“I’ve got one,” said Byrd.

“He has a working driver’s license,” said White.

White handed paperwork out to the respective board members to document reasons Byrd was moved.

One included an incident in which some type of oil was put in the wrong place allegedly by Byrd.

“I am licensed to run the water system and I am responsible for what happens,” White said.

“If Brian was such a thorn in the city’s side, why did they just move him to the street department?” asked Montgomery.

Cook said that as mayor it was his decision to move him to another department.

“If we are going to be uniform, what is good for one is good for another,” said Montgomery.

“In the two and one-half years I worked at the waste water plant, it has improved tremendously,” said Byrd.

White acknowledged that “Brian did very well at the plant. I’ve got no problem with that.”

Cook noted that he had not fired any city employee for a DUI and the city drug policy included an offer of treatment and retaining the job for the first positive test.

“Brian was very capable,” said White. “Reliable, not so much.”

Haggard asked water department assistant Stacy Rivers if Byrd followed his orders when White was absent. After pausing briefly, Rivers said, “No.”

Reid Yates then made a motion for Byrd to be returned to the waste water plant with Montgomery and Richard Perkins voting yes while Haggard, Parks and Woods voted no on the issue.

Saying he supported his department heads, mayor Cook broke the 3-3 tie by voting no.

Byrd thanked the board and left the meeting.

BUDGET APPROVED
The board approved the second and final reading on the budget and set the tax rate at $1.66 which will keep the tax rate the same for the upcoming fiscal year. The tax rate was actually lowered from the previous $1.86 and due to reappraisals, it was lowered to keep the amount of revenue and taxes the same. The budget and tax motion was made by Woods and seconded by Perkins and passed 6-0.

GARBAGE CONTRACT PROPOSAL
Brian Barker of Barker Brothers Waste Management spoke to the board about specifics if the city decided to contract out garbage removal and service.

Barker said his company serves 41 cities in West Tennessee including nearby Troy and Newbern.

Mayor Cook told him that Tiptonville had approximately 900 dwellings.

Barker said if they were awarded the contract, each private home would get a container to be picked up once per week by a Barker Brothers waste removal truck.

Cook and several of the aldermen had specific questions for Barker and he answered them all.

The board took no action.

ALFRED GAMBLE
Gamble appeared before the board to question a letter he received saying he could not get cans from the city’s waste containers, such as the ones at the compactor.

“Everybody is against me making a living,” Gamble said.

He said he retrieved aluminum cans and was willing to sign a paper relieving the city of any liability should he be hurt.

Although there was some sympathy for Gamble’s request, the board stood firm about prohibiting anyone from going through the garbage.

“There is a municipal code against getting things from the dumpster,” Yates said. “We have bigger problems than you picking up cans but it is a liability. I agree it is petty.”

“I’ll know who to vote for,” said Gamble as his parting shot.

CHARLES CHURCHWELL
Charles Churchwell asked the board about getting electricity back to a house after a fire. He said the meter was pulled by the fire department.

Fire chief Tommy Corum said the meter was pulled by GEMC and that the home had to pass an electrical inspection before it could be reset.

The board took no action.

OTHER BUSINESS
Corum, who has been working with the street department while street superintendent Michael Wade Moore is on medical leave, told the board there are several trees at Citizen’s Cemetery that need to be trimmed as a result of the ice storm. The board told him to get bids.

Yates presented a few items and again asked what could be done about “clunkers” owned by the city.
He also said the cemeteries “looked beautiful.”

Yates asked that the city’s streets be cleaned and swept in anticipation of two major events here, the All Class Reunion on Sept. 25-26, followed by the Reelfoot Arts and Crafts Festival the next weekend.
Cook said it would be done.

Christine Jackson questioned the board about a water bill adjustment and also received an explanation of what “miscellaneous and a sundry” means on the city budget.