Attorney’s letter apologizes for comments on Horn Lake

Made before Hernando panel

An attorney’s comments before the Hernando Planning Commission last month got him in some hot water with another DeSoto County city, leading to a letter of apology to Horn Lake that was read aloud at Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Attorney Hugh H. Armistead sent a letter, on his official letterhead, to former mayor Nat Baker, new Mayor Allen Latimer and Horn Lake’s sevenmember Board of Aldermen, asking their forgiveness for comments he was reported to have made at a June 11 meeting.

At that meeting, while discussing design changes to some homes under construction in a subdivision taken over by First Security Bank after foreclosure, Armistead was reported to have told planners that developers were not “trying to cheapen it down to make it look like a slum Horn Lake project.”

Armistead could not be reached Wednesday to verify his comments, reported by a local media outlet, but Latimer said Wednesday he had spoken with Armistead and that the at- torney did not dispute the remarks.

“He said he got caught up in the emotion of the moment,” Latimer said. “He was very contrite and sincere. I’ve known him, and he is an honorable gentleman. This lays it rest as far as I’m concerned.”

In his letter to the city, Armistead said he did not intend to offend.

“Please accept this letter as my apology to you, your fine citizens and all members of the general public for any derogatory comments I made during a recent Planning Commis- sion meeting at the city of Hernando,” the letter reads, adding that he “was wrong to reference Horn Lake or any other city for having a bad area.”

Latimer said he wasn’t sure if Armistead had ever done business with Horn Lake but the new mayor, who was sworn in before presiding over his first meeting Tuesday, reiterated that he was satisfied with the apology and was ready to move forward.

Armistead also said in his letter that he would repeat his apology to Hernando officials.