Tuesday Night Columbia Town Council Meeting

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 3341

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jun 08 2017 9:25 PM

COLUMBIA: The citizens of Columbia are tired of it! Only two of the Columbia Town Council Members understand that.

The Columbia Town Council, less Columbia's embattled Mayor, Lanny Lancaster, met on Monday evening and on Tuesday evening.

Columbia has been embattled with the Mayor's wife, who managed the senior citizens center, having signatures of people not present. SARCOA ( Southeast Regional Council on Aging ) sent letters to cancel the meal program because of what SARCOA described as forged signatures.

The Mayor's wife resigned. But the citizens of Columbia wants Mayor Lancaster gone.

On Monday there was to be a meeting with the Columbia Town Council and SARCOA. All of the Columbia Town Council appeared, but Mayor Lancaster was a "no show" and SARCOA was a "no show".

On Tuesday the Columbia Town Council appeared, less Columbia Mayor Lanny Lancaster. And there were some interesting things to be revealed.

It seems that Columbia Town Council Members Jesse Ingram and Robert Hunter are doing something the long time trio council members have not done. Actually read the documents and study them, and ask questions.

Don't you hate that?

Here are a couple of items... you see Mayor Lanny Lancaster is on vacation. But WAIT! He took an "advancement" on the vacation pay.

WAIT...advanced pay on unearned time for vacation according to the personnel manual. WAIT...three long time council members have not seen the 2013 Personnel Manual.

See the Mayor is also the Water Superintendent of which he gets paid. Who is the water board? Only the Mayor.

Here is another... Columbia Police Chief Shad Floyd spent over $ 1,500.00 on a transmission on a 2009 police car. One the town did not know they had. Chief Floyd said they have had the car for over a year. The car is not police equipped. Ano Chief Floyd spent the money without the permission of the City Council. It was stated it was not an emergency. And Chief Floyd said well the City got the car for free and can sell it now.

The Town Council refused to approve the financial statements.

Chief Floyd has gotten a lot of equipment from a govermoment program. Citizens claim a lot of equipment not needed.

Council Members Ingram and Hunter were upset because of money being spent without the approval of the Columvia Town CounciL. Mayor Pro Tem Rhonda Freeman was at a loss for words, Buze and Lane, well they could not keep up. The Town Clerk was shaking and scared. And the county attorney, well, really, did anyone expect him to answer a question? Really.

Citizens spoke they love their town. They agreed it is time to move on. But they also agreed there are consequences for the actions.

The "found" personnel handbook forbids the Mayor from hiring his wife. Forbida the Mayor from advancement of vacation pay. Forbids a lot of things.

Most agree, time for Mayor Lancaster to hang it up and pass the Mayor's seat to someone able to manage and stop the questionable practices.

And most agreed for Columbia Police Chief Shad Floyd to (1) start working (2) realize he has bosses.

Following the meeting the Council went into an Executive Session. The council came back after 45 minutes to an hour and said no action taken, we adjourn.

Hate we did not LIVESTREAM the meeting. Would have been great for hits.

Sorry it took me so long to write the article...

I WANT THE MOVIE RIGHTS

__________________________________

I WANT THE POPCORN AND DRINK SALES RIGHTS AT THE NEXT COLUMBIA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

______________________________

AND, IF TAKING BETS ARE LEGAL, MANY ARE PLACING BETS IF THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL ACTUALLY ANSWER A QUESTION