Tensions Boil Over at Washington County Board Meeting Amid Engineering Firm Dispute - Delta Daily News

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Tensions Boil Over at Washington County Board Meeting Amid Engineering Firm Dispute

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GREENVILLE, Miss.–Some of the Washington County supervisors appear to have irreconcilable differences after months of tension over the hiring and firing of engineering firms and the resulting loss of millions of dollars in money for road and bridge projects.

But, they are elected officials and must work together. However at Monday’s board meeting it was clear that Supervisor Mala Brooks was not going to play well with others. Within the first few minutes of the meeting she riled Board Attorney Willie Griffin, accusing him of allowing illegal items onto the minutes and allowing Board Pres. Carl McGee to have his way to conduct meetings however he saw fit, including allowing the discussion of items without them being on the agenda.
After a report from Hooker Engineering on the status of some road and bridge projects, Brooks made a motion to fire Hooker and rehire IMS, a company let go back in August.
When that motion was called out of order, Brooks tried again, this time motioning to put the hiring and firing of the county engineering firm on the agenda. That set off a back and forth over the motion’s legality. Brooks managed to muster support from supervisors Tommy Benson and Jerry Redmond. With the motion on the table, McGee and Supervisor Lee Gordon fought back, in favor of keeping the current firm in place.
“We sit here for six years and get two bridges built in this county,” said Gordon. “How y’all can sit here and try to put this back on the agenda, and it’s funny how certain people show up just when it’s voting on this.”
McGee, at times having to speak over loud accusations of impropriety from Books, lambasted the supes who sided with her.
“It’s a shame, Tommy, when you show up here with this foolishness and that’s the best you bring to this table,” said McGee. “You took the same oath and you put your hand on the Bible, Bishop. But, you’ve fallen under the influence of something other than what’s in the best interest of these taxpayers.”
McGee pointed out the money that has been lost as the result of wishy-washy hiring and firing of engineering firms, stating that no firm is going to want to work with a county that could fire them so easily. He then made another appeal to his colleagues.
“It’s a disgrace how you all could be so easily influenced and you all are supposed to be men,” he said, with Brooks quipping, “Are you downgrading them as men?”
On a vote on whether the item would be added to the agenda, Redmond left the room and Benson did not side with Brooks. When the motion failed, Brooks vowed to bring it back up.
“I know you will,” said Gordon.