Ringgold mayor still peeved over city charter change

The City Council, in general, is OK with the decision.

RINGGOLD — Mayor Nick Millwood’s beef with a change to the city charter isn’t so much that the change was made. He says the change was made by Sen. Jeff Mullis without being completely up front with elected officials and the public.

On most city matters, decisions are made based on a three-vote majority of the five-member council. The adjustment to the charter was made by in Atlanta by Jeff Mullis, who represents Catoosa County in the Georgia General Assembly, on April 26, 2016, making it necessary for all five members to be in agreement if they want to fire the city manager.

Mullis, a Republican from Chickamauga, represents Senate District 53, which includes Catoosa, Dade, and Walker counties and portions of Chattooga County.

Millwood said he didn’t find out about the change until October 2016.

Mullis defends his actions.

“Stability is what I am trying for here,” Mullis said. “I think it should be a super majority to fire a city manager or some type related position, again for stability and for due process and not to run for local office just to fire a city manager for political reasons.

“It was advertised in the county legal organ, Catoosa News, as required by Georgia law, weeks before it was presented/introduced in the legislature in 2016,” Mullis said. Moreover, he said, it was agreed on and presented by the local legislative delegation; after passing, it was on the internet completely as passed at least two months before the governor signed it.

Council members Sara Clark and Larry Black both say they wish the change had been communicated to the council better before it actually happened. But, they said, as mayor pro tem Terry Crawford pointed out in the most recent council meeting Monday night, May 22, the change was advertised by Mullis before it occurred.

“This was not a secret,” Crawford said. “We have documentation from the secretary of state. The governor signed this also. ... Letters were sent out, and it was run as a legal in the county paper.”

Councilman Randall Franks said Mullis went through the proper channels and that information about the pending change was obtainable online.

“The legislature has the right to put anything they want to in our charter, and they do it publicly,” Franks said. “It’s posted on the state website. If any one of us had gone to the state website while it was being considered, any one of us would have known it was there.”

City Manager Dan Wright says Millwood came to his office two weeks ago with ongoing reservations about the matter. Millwood then took to social media, where he talked about feeling left in the dark during the whole ordeal and wanting to organize a petition to change the charter back.

“I may be knocking on your door soon,” he said to residents in his Facebook post.

The post garnered numerous comments and reaction, many of which criticized Mullis and made claims of “shady dealings” and “back room politics.”

During the city council’s May 22 work session and meeting, council members questioned Millwood as to why he won’t let the issue lie, and why he chose to draw additional attention to the matter via social media.

“Why are we making a big issue out of this again, and why do you keep bringing it up?” councilman Jake Haynes asked. “Haven’t we already discussed this, like, three times previously? Last time we said, ‘We’re all okay with this, and it’s a dead issue.’”

Millwood says his biggest issue is still how it was handled.

Both Crawford and Councilman Randall Franks said they feel the social media attention did more harm than good by getting residents riled up over something that isn’t an issue since the entire council is on board with the change itself.

“This was put in there for a reason, for our protection,” Crawford said. “I think it needs to stand. There was nothing underhanded, nothing illegal, no back room business, or ‘good ole boy politics’ as its been stated on social media. It was done right, with great intentions and consideration for the city and for protection of personnel in the future. I’d like to see us stand by this.”

Franks said Millwood is stirring the pot and creating a bigger issue because he’s acting on personal feelings rather than supporting the council’s approval of the charter change.

“Every member of this council has told our mayor in public meetings that we did not wish to change this current charter change that occurred in 2016,” Franks said.

Ultimately, the council unanimously approved leaving the charter change as is, but added that notification be required if any additional changes are made to the charter by Mullis after the council sends in its changes.